On-duty killings led to $3.5 million payout. Why is KCPD officer still employed? | Opinion
We weren’t all that surprised to learn this week that officer Blayne Newton is still with the Kansas City Police Department — even after Friday’s $3.5 million payout in a wrongful death lawsuit. After all, repeated calls for Newton to be relieved of his duties have been routinely ignored.
For example, just last year, a report from then-Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker’s office concluded the department should fire Newton for killing an unarmed man and other egregious acts committed while in uniform.
On Tuesday, department officials confirmed he is still employed as an officer with KCPD’s patrol bureau. But Newton must go.
We call on Police Chief Stacey Graves to take a stand and do what is right for the entire community and usher this wayward officer out the door.
That Newton, an eight-year KCPD veteran, still patrols city streets is unfathomable. Since 2020, he’s fatally shot three people while on duty and injured a fourth with gunfire. He’s been accused of using excessive force in multiple cases.
We asked police officials if Graves had considered taking away Newton’s badge and gun but hadn’t heard a direct response from her by Wednesday morning.
“In regard to your … question, I will have to check in with the Chief’s office,” Kansas City Police Sgt. Phil DiMartino wrote in an email Tuesday. We are still waiting.
It’s important to note Newton has not been held criminally responsible for any of the actions mentioned above. But anyone who takes a solemn oath to protect and serve, as Newton did, should not have the baggage that he brings to the job each day.
Kansas Citians would be much safer if the department parted ways with an officer who has at least five use-of-force incidents on his record in a five-year span.
Not only has Newton killed or seriously injured people while on duty — he’s abused two others we know of, and placed a knee in the back of a pregnant woman who was lying on her belly.
These transgressions have come at a cost for hardworking taxpayers in this city. The $3.5 million settlement was reached with the families of three of the people Newton shot — two fatally — in 2023.
John Picerno, the families’ attorney, told The Star that the plaintiffs in the case were deeply disturbed to learn that Newton had previously taken another life.
“They all believe he should no longer serve in law enforcement,” Picerno told Star reporter Caroline Zimmerman. “I am in agreement with my clients.”
In another civil case, Newton was accused of assaulting a woman in September 2022 while working off-duty but in uniform. The department settled those claims earlier this year for $65,000.
In yet another civil matter, Newton was part of a $325,000 settlement in March 2022 after a 17-year-old Kansas City boy was punched more than 10 times, tackled and tasered by Newton and two other officers.
One more case of note still pending: a $10 million lawsuit filed by the family of Donnie Sanders against the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners. Sanders, 47, of Kansas City, was unarmed when Newton fatally shot him in 2020.
Considering the totality of circumstances behind each of these incidents, we maintain Newton can no longer effectively work in law enforcement.
How many more people does Newton have to shoot or kill or allegedly abuse before he is relieved of his duties? He is a liability to the police department and taxpayers are left to foot the legal bills associated with these settlements.
It is beyond fair to question why someone that poses such a threat as Newton is still patrolling the Kansas City streets.