Jay-Z’s Team Roc is suing Kansas City police over alleged cover-ups of misconduct
- Suit was filed in Wyandotte County, Kansas’s district court
- Aim is to see records of investigators and specifics such as training and supervision
- Team Roc attorneys said previous docs submit were insufficient
- Suit filed amid activists requesting a probe of the KCKPD by the U.S Department of Justice
Jay-Z’s Team Roc organization on Monday sued the Kansas City Police Department over allegations they covered up instances of police misconduct.
The lawsuit was filed in Wyandotte County, Kansas’s district court, requesting a look at records of investigators with the department, and specifics such as training and supervision, according to ABC News.
Team Roc lawyer Alex Spiro told the outlet that previous documents authorities submitted under the Kansas Open Records Act were ‘not sufficient.’
The latest: Jay-Z’s Team Roc organization on Monday sued the Kansas City Police Department over allegations they covered up instances of police misconduct. The rap icon was snapped in NYC last month
The lawyer continued, ‘Because of the Public Records Act that allows interested parties to look at various states and government documents, we’re allowed to see certain files and how the government handled certain issues.
‘The government has attempted to block our access to those files, and so we’re suing to see what they don’t want us to see.’
According to legal docs viewed by the outlet, the KCKPD has consented to submit documents ‘pertaining to the complaints made against members of the Investigative Division,’ but ‘refused to produce documents pertaining to any steps that the city has taken in response to those complaints, including any investigations or disciplinary proceedings initiated as a result of the complaints.’
The suit from Team Roc was filed amid activists requesting a probe of the KCKPD by the U.S Department of Justice amid recent accusations of misconduct and discrimination against police in Kansas City, Kansas.
Details: The lawsuit was filed in Wyandotte County, Kansas’s district court, requesting a look at records of investigators with the department, and specifics such as training and supervision
Team Roc is the philanthropy arm of Jay-Z’s Roc Nation organization, which has been involved in multiple efforts at reform in criminal justice
Among them included a police officer accused of a sex crime with a minor; two officers charged with felony and misdemeanor assault on an inmate, and a race and gender discrimination brought against the department by a Black female officer.
Lawyers for Team Roc said ‘these documents will help identify the scope of the problem, any potential evidence of a cover-up, and also the potential causes.’
A police rep told The Wyandotte Daily this past July that police continue ‘to be willing, and available, to assist any agency working any investigation involving our department.
‘Our relationship with the community is of utmost importance, which is why we are focused on strengthening current relationships and restoring those that have been broken.’
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said that exceptions in the public records case include ‘most personnel records’ as well as records of criminal probes and intelligence information.
Team Roc’s legal team said they were pursing info to suss out whether ‘complaints are being seriously addressed and whether there is sufficient oversight and supervision over the KCKPD.’
Team Roc is the philanthropy arm of Jay-Z’s Roc Nation organization, which has been involved in multiple efforts at reform in criminal justice.
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