First Jackson County African American female prosecutor emphasizes her deep KC roots | Opinion
It was hardly a secret that history would be made Tuesday night in Jackson County — either Melesa Johnson, a Democrat, or Republican Tracey Chappell would become the county’s first African-American prosecutor.
But in this county, voters tend to lean Democrat, so none of us should be surprised Johnson was chosen as the first Black female prosecutor here.
In a statement, Johnson thanked voters for their support.
“Jackson County, this victory belongs to all of us who dared to dream of safer neighborhoods and a stronger community,” Johnson said. “Over these 14 months, your resilience, your stories, and your relentless support started a powerful movement. Together, we’ve proven that there is an incredible power of a united Jackson County. I am honored to carry your voices with me as we fight for real justice, fairness, opportunity, and lasting change. Thank you for believing in our vision and in each other but this is just the beginning — now the real work begins.”
Johnson is Kansas City’s first director of public safety. In a statement, Mayor Mayor Quinton Lucas congratulated Johnson on her historic victory.
“During her time in my office, Prosecutor-elect Johnson built and managed violence interruption strategies that saved lives and brought peace to long-challenged Kansas City neighborhoods,” Lucas said. “She is well suited to bring together our police, our communities, our businesses, and all of us in building a safer Kansas City.”
I have no qualms with the job current Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker has done. History will prove Baker an effective prosecutor. After all, Baker’s office secured the first conviction of a white Kansas City Police officer accused of fatally shooting an unarmed Black man.
In recent years, Baker has also held accountable other Kansas City officers who ran afoul of the law. Like those that came before her, Baker is white.
Despite Baker’s performance, the coming change is welcomed.
In public office, I firmly believe representation matters. And the Ivy League-educated Johnson fits the bill. She’s young, ambitious, grounded and rooted in the Kansas City community. During the election cycle, Johnson made it a point to remind voters she still resides in the Third Council District neighborhood she grew up in.
While Johnson may not have decades of experience as a trial lawyer, she is astute enough to understand her shortcomings. My advice to her would be to do everything she can to surround herself with competent assistant prosecutors, some of whom are already in office. Here in Jackson County, crime is an issue that cannot be ignored. Especially in the Black community.
Last year, 73% of the city’s homicide victims were Black, according to Kansas City Police Department data. In the cases where a homicide suspect was identified, 58% were Black.
What the prosecutor-elect cannot afford to do is lose highly-seasoned prosecutors that help keep all Jackson Countians safe.
If possible, Johnson should raise their pay and try her darndest to keep office morale high. We’ve seen what occurred across the state in St. Louis with former Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner. Under Gardner’s leadership, prosecutors left that office in droves, leading to an inordinate number of homicide cases that were dismissed.
We’ve watched from afar the sudden rise and fall of former Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby. Gardner and Mosby are two reformed-minded Black women who entered office to much fanfare but fell well short of any sort of criminal justice reform.
Gardner’s second term ended early when Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey went after her for taking nursing classes while on city time. Corruption was Mosby’s downfall. In 2023, she was convicted of perjury and mortgage fraud. Gardner resigned to keep Bailey from using the power of his office to remove her as circuit attorney.
Johnson knows she must stay clear of any sort of malfeasance.
“There’s just some things that I will not be able to avoid,” she said during an endorsement interview with The Kansas City Star Editorial Board. “I am a student of black female prosecutors. And I’ve learned a lot of lessons by watching their trajectory. The harsh reality is you could do everything right and still have some trouble land at your doorstep.”
It’s not every day that a young Black girl from Kansas City’s East Side grows up to become the top law enforcement official in the county. That must be applauded. But Johnson has a chance to be a transformative prosecutor.
It is my hope that she does indeed become one.
This story was originally published November 6, 2024 at 5:06 AM.
