DIY VIRAL
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Like other recent cases of racial progress, a historic prison sentence handed down to a white Missouri police officer for the murder of a black man ended almost as soon as it began. Missouri Governor Mike Parson commuted the six-year prison sentence handed down to former Kansas City detective Eric DeValkenaere. DeValkenaere, convicted of murdering 26-year-old Cameron Lamb in 2019, was released after serving just over a year.
What a huge denial.
Nothing new: Missouri's history of improper convictions
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For Missouri, this type of justice was already rare. Previously reported by BOSSIP, DeValkenaere's conviction constitutes an example of unprecedented accountability. In a country full of firsts… he became the first Kansas City police officer to be convicted of murdering a black man since 1941. This represents an 80-year gap of unjust law enforcement accountability and a plethora of systemic challenges to name.
According to Revolt, the case revolved around the fatal shooting of Lamb on December 3, 2019. Lamb, a father and auto mechanic, was shot to death in his backyard as he backed his pickup truck into the garage. DeValkenaere and his partner entered the property without a warrant or probable cause, citing a high-speed chase that had already ended.
The court found DeValkenaere guilty of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in 2021. Judge J. Dale Youngs reprimanded the officers for their illegal entry. He had only 6 years of service remaining after committing suicide in 2019. They extended and avoided consequences through legal challenges and unsuccessful appeals until 2023.
You can't make this stuff up.
Switching and the immediate backlash
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On December 20, 2024, Governor Parson commuted DeValkenaere's sentence as part of a broader pre-holiday pardon initiative. In Revolt, the decision sparked outrage from Lamb's family and justice advocates.
“They let me know loud and clear that they felt like my son’s life didn’t matter,” said Laurie Bey, Lamb’s mother.
Parents continue to echo everyone's pain.
“This is not the first time they have shown that they don’t care about anyone but themselves,” added Aquil Bey, Lamb’s father-in-law.
For Lamb's family, the commutation feels like a flashback to a hard-won victory for justice. While DeValkenaere spends the holidays with his family, the Lamb family faces another season of grief.
The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office, which opposed the pardon, also expressed dismay. According to Revolt, they said: “The rule of law has spoken clearly on this issue. »
Meanwhile, DeValkenaere thanked his supporters via a statement shared by the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund: “I am so grateful to the thousands of people who stood with me…Thank you all, I am home with my family for Christmas. »
But where is Cameron? #CopsKillPeople
A model of indifference: from Tulsa to Kansas City
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Governor Parson's decision to commute DeValkenaere's sentence is part of a pattern of government contempt for the service of justice. Black people can't even have our 40 acres and a mule! Previously reported by BOSSIP, the Oklahoma Supreme Court recently denied reparations for the last known survivors of the Tulsa Massacre, a horrific event in which a thriving black community was destroyed by white mobs in 1921. Despite evidence Overwhelming with the harm, the survivors and their descendants were denied access. even a symbolic recognition of their suffering.
In the “middle of the map,” cities like Kansas City and Tulsa are more than just geographic neighbors: They are interconnected, a crossroads of cultural and economic development, with several generations of neglect and disregard for black communities. Decisions such as the denial of reparations in Tulsa and DeValkenaere's commuted sentence send a clear message that Black lives and legacies continue to be devalued.
We know who the true “backbone of America” is.
A broader model of leniency for convicted officers
DeValkenaere's early release is not an isolated case. Across the United States, police officers convicted in high-profile cases involving black victims have had their sentences reduced or even avoided prison time. Consider cases like the lives of Elijah McClain and Ronald Greene. Even the President of the United States expunged the convictions. President Donald Trump literally features multiple indictments that should have little to no serious consequences.
America continues to promote the perception of a two-tier justice system, and does so without any shame.
DIY VIRAL
