Jay-Z's Team Roc files lawsuit accusing police in Kansas City, Kansas, of covering up misconduct
CBSN
Team Roc, Jay-Z's philanthropic group, has filed a lawsuit against the police department in Kansas City, Kansas, in an effort to obtain complaints of alleged misconduct against officers. The suit, filed Monday in the Wyandotte County District Court, claims the department denied record requests involving officers from its investigative division who have been accused of misconduct.
"The KCKPD is entrusted by the public to help maintain peace in the community. Yet, for years, it appears that officers have abused their power and engaged in wrongdoing," the lawsuit reads. "To the extent that the KCKPD did not take any steps to remediate these issues, the public should have a right to know so they can organize and take appropriate steps to effect change."
The lawsuit cites several reports of alleged misconduct to justify the request. This year, one officer was reportedly charged with "buying sexual relations," and last year, another was reportedly charged with sex crimes involving a minor.
Ashley White received her earliest combat action badge from the United States Army soon after the first lieutenant arrived in Afghanistan. The silver military award, recognizing soldiers who've been personally engaged by an attacker during conflict, was considered an achievement in and of itself as well as an affirming rite of passage for the newly deployed. White had earned it for using her own body to shield a group of civilian women and children from gunfire that broke out in the midst of her third mission in Kandahar province. All of them survived. She never mentioned the badge to anyone in her battalion.