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One of the most fulfilling things about being a prosecutor is the teamwork and relationships that get developed with law enforcement. Many cases are just brought to you, but major crimes require teamwork and synergy between the law enforcement officers investigating and the prosecutors who will ultimately charge and try the case.
These relationships require trust and communication. Law enforcement officers have to believe that the prosecutors are willing to charge hard cases and take hard cases to trial. Ask any officer. Morale will decrease if they think the district attorney’s office will only charge slam dunk cases.
The Johnson County District Attorney’s Office recently changed the metrics they use to analyze success. Gone are the days of promoting trial conviction statistics and in its place, the District Attorney has begun using a survey of various performance goals. One of the stated goals of Steve Howe’s office is to “work with our law enforcement community to help develop policies that meet the needs of the community and earn the public’s trust.” To measure that, they looked at the percentage of law enforcement partners indicating a high level of satisfaction with the DA’s Office. So how did the DA’s office do? Only 67% of law enforcement partners have a high satisfaction with the DA’s office. If we put a letter grade on it, that would be a D+.
Why are so many law enforcement partners dissatisfied with the DA’s office? One officer told me that the DA’s office refuses to charge hard cases - especially when it comes to fentanyl deaths. As of November 2023, only eight drug dealers had been charged with selling a drug that killed another person. Between 2018 and 2022, there were 148 overdose deaths in Johnson County. 8/148 doesn’t indicate a willingness to charge hard cases.
Another officer told me that the refusal to charge the officers who stole from the Overland Park FOP left many disillusioned. The DA’s office released a statement about their investigation and how challenging it was before deciding it was too difficult to charge. The former head of the Johnson County DA’s Office Economic Crimes unit thought it was a crime that should have been charged.
Perhaps law enforcement partners feel like they get sold out by the district attorney in public. When justifying his lack of prosecutions for fentanyl, the district attorney threw law enforcement under the bus saying that he can only charge the cases law enforcement brings him. A district attorney who prioritizes a public health crisis can work with law enforcement officers to train them on what kind of evidence or information a prosecutor needs to be successful and prove a case. A district attorney who takes the biggest public safety issue for people under 40 in this country wouldn’t look for excuses to not act, but would instead work tirelessly to find solutions.
But the sellout of law enforcement and the Overland Park Police Department is perhaps best exemplified by the weak plea deal offered to Chaz Lawrence in 20CR3270. Lawrence broke into the MicroCenter in Overland Park on Christmas Eve of 2020. When officers arrived on scene, he fled and began shooting at them, trying to kill them. Lawrence was charged with Attempted Capital Murder, a charge that comes with a life sentence. Instead of serving the rest of his life in prison for trying to murder law enforcement officers, Chaz Lawrence plead to two counts of aggravated assault, burglary, and being a felon with a firearm. He was sentenced to five years in prison. Five years for trying to kill the cops who had the audacity to respond to the scene of a crime.
No matter the reason, Steve Howe’s office is failing in its goal of working with law enforcement. It’s time for a new voice and a new vision for the office to rebuild those relationships so that the current D+ grade turns into something our community can be proud of. Visit our website and social media. Sign up to help the campaign so we can make a safer Johnson County for you and your family.
-DG
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