Kansas City Law Enforcement Accountability Project

08/24/2026

Police pursuits are a public safety issue, and Kansas City needs to take them seriously.

A recent Kansas City Star report highlights the dangers of high-speed police pursuits and the risks they create for everyone on the road, not just the person police are trying to stop.

There is a local example of what stronger pursuit restrictions can look like. In May, Independence Interim Police Chief Douglas Brinkley issued an executive order limiting police pursuits to cases involving violent felonies. Since then, Independence has seen a significant reduction in high-speed pursuits.

That should be part of the conversation in Kansas City.

KCPD Chief Stacey Graves has announced her retirement at the end of the year. As the city begins the process of selecting the next chief, we should be asking candidates how they plan to address dangerous police pursuits and whether KCPD’s current policies do enough to protect the public.

We need a chief willing to look at the data, listen to the community, and make changes when existing policies put people at unnecessary risk.

Public safety has to mean more than catching someone who is fleeing. It also means protecting the people who happen to be in the path of the chase.

Take action: Join KCLEAP at the next Board of Police Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, August 25 at 9:30 AM. Come speak about the dangers of police pursuits, the need for transparency in the selection of the next KCPD chief, and the importance of meaningful public input in that process.

The community deserves a voice in deciding what policing looks like in Kansas City.

Board of Police Commissioners Meeting
Tuesday, August 25 | 9:30 AM | Doors open at 9:00 AM
1125 Locust | KCPD Community Room

Show up. Speak up. Demand transparency and accountability.

Learn more about this at the article linked below:
https://amp.kansascity.com/news/local/article316941125.html

Review the KCPD BOPC agenda below:
https://kcpolice.org/about/board-of-police-commissioners/agendas/august-25-2026/

08/23/2026

Our hearts are with the family, loved ones, and community members grieving the loss of 19-year old Leonel Lozoya-Esparza, a young man who lost his life early Sunday morning after being shot by a Kansas City, Kansas police officer.

The community deserves clear answers, transparency, and a thorough, independent investigation into what happened. Families and neighbors should not be left to navigate tragedy and uncertainty without information or accountability. As the investigation continues, it is essential that the process honors the seriousness of this loss and keeps the community informed.

KCLEAP will continue to stand with families and community members impacted by police violence and advocate for systems of public safety that prioritize the preservation of life. We extend our deepest condolences to everyone mourning this devastating loss.

You can read more at the article below:
https://www.kctv5.com/2026/08/23/kckpd-person-killed-after-officers-respond-reports-shots-fired/

08/23/2026

On August 22, 2007, 31-year old Morris Butler was killed by KCPD after they attempted to detain him at a bus station on suspicion of drug possession. Morris was traveling with 20-year old Artessia Moore from Los Angeles to Columbus, Ohio. For whatever reason, the pair exited the Greyhound terminal in Kansas City that morning. Profiled by a bulky hoodie, police detained, searched, and arrested Moore, charging her with federal conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of co***ne.

According to the affidavit, police identified that she was traveling with Butler. When police officers attempted to handcuff him, he began to resist by pushing and pulling away from the detectives. During the struggle, Butler broke free and fled out the front doors of the bus terminal, with officers chasing on foot behind. He continued westbound on 12th Street, stopping underneath the I35 overpass. Two detectives who pursued him drew their weapons and ordered him to get on the ground, but Butler refused. As one detective attempted to put Butler on the ground, Butler reached for the detective’s firearm. The affidavit states that a struggle for the firearm ensued and ended when the detective discharged his firearm, striking Butler numerous times.

08/21/2026

Join KCLEAP and members of the community at the next Board of Police Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

Showing up and speaking out is a part of the work KCLEAP is doing to hold KCPD accountable and maintain transparency. You can join the meeting in person or virtually.

🗣In person
KCPD Headquarters, Community Room, 1125 Locust, Kansas City
*Doors open at 9:00 AM to the public*

🌐Virtually
Kansas City television channel:
🔗http://kcmo.gov/channel2
KCPD YouTube channel:
🔗https://www.youtube.com/

08/20/2026

When someone experiences or witnesses excessive use of force by law enforcement, they deserve to be heard.

KCLEAP's hotline provides a place where community members can report incidents, share their experiences, and connect with KCLEAP volunteers who can help guide them through the next steps. But we can't do that work without dedicated volunteers.

By volunteering on our hotline, you'll play a critical role in ensuring people have someone who will listen with compassion, document their concerns, and connect them with available resources and support. Your time can help amplify voices that might otherwise go unheard and strengthen accountability in our community.

If you believe in justice, transparency, and supporting those impacted by police violence, we invite you to join our team. Together, we can make sure no one has to navigate these experiences alone.

Interested in volunteering? Reach out to KCLEAP to learn more about our training and how you can get involved: 🔗www.kcleap.org/get-involved

08/19/2026

When the police murder or use excessive force against a family member, friend, or neighbor, the community deserves more than one perspective.

That's where KCLEAP's Rapid Response Team comes in.

Our volunteers respond to the reported incident to independently document the scene, preserve community accounts, and speak with witnesses and neighbors who may not feel comfortable or safe sharing what they saw with law enforcement. We operate separately from the police, providing an independent community-based response focused on accountability, transparency, and ensuring that voices are not lost.

By volunteering with the Rapid Response Team, you can help gather information, support impacted communities, and create a record that may otherwise never exist. Your presence can help ensure that witnesses know someone is willing to listen without judgment and that families are not left to navigate these moments alone.

Every statement documented. Every conversation held. Every person who feels heard instead of silenced.

That's the difference a volunteer can make.

Join KCLEAP's Rapid Response Team and help bring truth, accountability, and community support to the moments when they're needed most.

Interested in volunteering? Reach out to KCLEAP to learn more about our training and how you can get involved: 🔗www.kcleap.org/get-involved

08/18/2026

After police violence, the headlines fade—but for families and survivors, the pain, uncertainty, and challenges remain.

KCLEAP's Family and Victim Support Team exists to ensure that no one has to face that journey alone. Our volunteers help connect individuals and families with legal resources, financial assistance, counseling referrals, advocacy, and other critical support as they navigate the aftermath of unimaginable loss and trauma.

The impact of this work extends far beyond a single conversation. It means helping a grieving parent find an attorney. It means connecting a survivor with mental health resources. It means easing the burden of funeral expenses, finding community partners, or simply being a compassionate presence during one of the darkest moments of someone's life.

By volunteering with our Family and Victim Support Team, you become part of a network dedicated to standing beside families when they need it most and ensuring they know they are not alone.

Healing begins with support. Justice begins with community. Join us in making a difference.

Interested in volunteering? Reach out to KCLEAP to learn more about our training and how you can get involved: 🔗www.kcleap.org/get-involved

08/17/2026

KCLEAP is sharing an opportunity from The Kansas City Defender for Black youth and community members across Missouri and Kansas to participate in the B-REAL Academy: Black Radical Education for Abolition & Liberation.

This free, 14-week program brings together Black community members to study Black resistance and liberation movements while building practical skills in organizing, direct action, mutual aid, fundraising, campaigns, radical media, and movement building.

Sessions are held Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with free soul food provided each week. Only 30 participants will be selected for each cohort.

Applications are due August 22.

If you or someone in your community is interested in building knowledge, leadership, and collective power, consider applying.

https://kansascitydefender.indiegraf.com/lt.php?x=4lZy~GE2JFKe654r-dPLVehv16AhiwDvjxphjHY3UIKh6pGt-ky7xONu2nIl-RVfjDZo2XLJJYGa750KyOxHVed0

What if school actually prepared you to change the world? We are in historic times, and a new generation of Black organizers are emerging. Many are being trained in The Defender's B-REAL Academy. B-REAL Academy is a program for visionary Black high schoolers, adolescents, adults and beyond across Mi...

08/16/2026

Get involved!!

Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation (AIRR)