While we are pleased that Sergeant  Matthew Neal is pleading guilty, we do not agree with the sentence of probation.

According to the facts and another officer on the scene, “M.R.” had surrendered and was on the ground when Matthew Neal put his knee in the back of this child’s head, breaking his teeth and causing a contusion that required several stitches. Neal was accompanied by Officer Dylan Pifer who had just killed Terrance Bridges six months prior. Dylan Pifer is still a Kansas City Police Officer as was Matthew Neal until today. This is UNACCEPTABLE.

Police officers should be held to a higher standard than the average resident, sworn by an oath to “protect and serve”. Neal and Pifer have continuously caused harm in our community and should not be given any leniency for committing such atrocities. The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office has taken strides of late to remove dangerous officers from service, and we appreciate the fact Matthew Neal will now be a convicted felon. However, he moves on with his life while the victim deals with a lifetime of trauma.

There are multiple officers who have committed acts of excessive use of force, assault, and even murdered members of our community who are still employed by the Kansas City Missouri Police Department. We demand their immediate removal and criminal prosecution.

We are aware of  how traumatic this has been for ‘M.R.” and extend our love and support to him and his family. We will continue to be a resource for all victims of KCPD violence and a vehicle to their accountability and removal from our communities. We know that we are only aware of a fraction of the violence inflicted upon Kansas City residents and encourage those who have experienced police brutality to contact us.