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    A June 13 letter from Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker says she has learned that Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is considering pardoning a former Kansas City police officer.

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    Letter from Jackson County Prosecutor

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    A June 13 letter from Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker says she has learned that Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is considering pardoning a former Kansas City police officer.

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    20K views1 page

    Letter From Jackson County Prosecutor

    Uploaded by

    Ian Cummings
    A June 13 letter from Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker says she has learned that Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is considering pardoning a former Kansas City police officer.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
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    JEAN PETERS BAKER

    Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney


    June 13, 2023

    Honorable Michael L. Parson


    Capitol Building, Room 216
    P.O. Box 270
    Jefferson City, MO 65102

    Dear Governor Parson:  

    Pardons are political actions by design, not devised for the innocent but for the guilty. I am
    writing because of numerous reports that suggest you are going to soon pardon former Kansas
    City Detective Eric DeValkenaere. I am writing to request that you do not pardon him.
     
    DeValkenaere was fairly convicted and sentenced under Missouri law to Involuntary
    Manslaughter of Cameron Lamb and Armed Criminal Action. Your pardon now would preempt
    Attorney General Bailey’s defense of this conviction and subvert the rule of law. The appellate
    process has not yet concluded. I am aware that you have been lobbied to pardon this officer,
    even before his trial. I imagine you might view a pardon as a way to support police. But I
    expect this extreme action for the only KCPD officer convicted of fatally shooting a black man
    will ignite distrust, protests, and public safety concerns for citizens and for police.

    The most significant threat to public safety will not come from community protests. Perhaps the
    greater long-term harm will be an erosion of our public safety system as fair and just. A pardon
    of this convicted former police officer will accelerate that distrust that we already see in our
    system. Witnesses don’t want to testify, and victims decline to prosecute their attackers, even
    after suffering great injury. This distrust will only grow when you, as overseer of KCPD, choose
    a political action over the legal process.  

    I would urge you to immediately speak with the victim’s family. No one from your office or the
    Attorney General’s Office has spoken with these victims and they deserve better. Secondly, I
    urge you to speak with this community. Convene a public meeting in Kansas City regarding
    your proposed actions. Kansas Citians deserve to be heard.  

    As I am a public official, this letter is a public document and will be released. I ask again: please
    do not use a political action to subvert the rule of law. 

    Sincerely,

    Jean Peters Baker


    Prosecutor for Jackson County

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