Investigation Launched by State Authorities into Police Raid at Kansas Newspaper Office

Officers in a Kansas town conducted searches of the newspaper’s offices and the home of a local councilwoman. They seized computers, cellphones, and files, and the 98-year-old co-owner of the newspaper, Joan Meyer, passed away shortly after her home was searched, with stress from the event cited as a contributing factor.

Questions arise following police raid on Kansas newspaper

The actions of Marion police and sheriff’s deputies during the raid, described by Record editor Eric Meyer as “Gestapo tactics,” have been met with widespread condemnation from advocates of press freedom. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, joined by The Washington Post and over 30 news organizations and press groups, has called for the return of seized materials, citing laws protecting journalists as well as the Fourth Amendment.

The newspaper’s attorney has criticized the search as a violation of a state shield law and has forwarded a letter of protest to the KBI.

The KBI has stated that it is the lead agency investigating the incident but has not provided further details. The focus of the investigation and the reasons behind KBI’s involvement remain undisclosed.

The actions of Chief Gideon Cody, who joined the local police force after a long career with the Kansas City Police Department, have drawn criticism in light of the police raid.

According to Eric Meyer, the Record had been investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against Chief Cody in Kansas City but had not yet published a story on the matter.

The search warrant for the raid was issued after a local judge received a complaint from Kari Newell, a restaurant owner in Marion. Newell alleged that a reporter from the newspaper had illegally accessed sealed state records in order to sabotage her liquor license application. Newell stated that journalists are not exempt from the same laws they criticize others for not following.