Mack Nelson, a client of The Kansas City Law Enforcement Accountability Project (KCLEAP), has won a settlement from the Kansas City police department of $500,000 as a result of the assault he experienced at the hands of KCPD officer Frazier.

First and foremost, KCLEAP is pleased that Mack has been able to receive some level of restitution and acknowledgment of fault from the Kansas City police department. In addition to the physical brutality from the police, Mack’s life has repeatedly been disrupted by the aftermath of this case. We are glad that this settlement will be able to provide Mack some closure and we ask that everyone please respect his privacy and his wish to move forward. 

Mack’s story is entirely too common in Kansas City and across the US. Unfortunately, the main difference in his story is that he was able to win his settlement. This highlights the necessity of community support and police accountability groups like KCLEAP. Mack was assaulted as a witness of the state sanctioned killing of Zachary Garrard. KCLEAP was on the scene and able to record the assault. When no one believed Mack, KCLEAP was able to guide him through the bureaucratic red tape by referring him to attorney John Picerno and other services. Without community support, these common barriers would have allowed KCPD to brush yet another victim of their violent actions under the rug. 

However, despite KCPD’s admission of fault in this settlement, full accountability has not yet been met. Frazier continues to be employed by KCPD, and we continue to pay for his salary as tax-paying Kansan-citians. The police department operates with one set of rules for civilians and another set of rules for police officers who assault or even kill civilians. Just over this summer, with serial killer officer Blayne Newton and officer Gragg, we have seen that these officers with a well documented history of violence will continue to inflict violence on our community. KCPD knows that these officers are violent because they have continually used our tax dollars to pay for their settlements. As long as violent police officers remain on the streets, KCLEAP will continue to keep watch and strive for real accountability.