The police chief of a small Kansas city was investigated by the native newspaper for allegations of sexual misconduct earlier than ordering his total division to raid the paper’s workplaces, it has emerged.
The writer’s 98-year-old mom, Joan Meyer, who co-owned the paper, died the day after the raid — after telling The Wichita Eagle, “These are Hitler tactics and something needs to be done.”
Her son Eric Meyer, 69, mentioned his mom was devastated by the seizure of computer systems and servers from the Marion County Record workplaces.
Police claimed the raid was carried out as a result of they had been involved about ‘identity theft’, after the newspaper obtained proof of a attainable liquor license violation.
But the information operation was sure the raid was a results of their investigation of Gideon Cody, 54.
He grew to become Chief of the Marion County Police Department in late April, after leaving the Kansas City Police Department over sexual misconduct allegations.
Eric Meyer, writer of The Marion County Record, raided the workplaces of his newspaper on Friday. His mom, a co-owner of the paper, died Saturday — Meyer mentioned it was grief and shock
Joan Meyer, 98, was distraught over the police raid on her newspaper, calling it a tactic by Hitler. She died the subsequent day
The Marion County Record serves a group of 11,000 folks in rural Kansas
Gideon Cody took over as Chief of the Marion County Police Department in April. The newspaper investigated ideas that he had retired from the Kansas City Police Department to keep away from an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations
Cody took the job after his retirement as a captain in Kansas City, Missouri, the place he labored for twenty-four years.
The Marion County Record acquired a “deluge of calls,” mentioned Eric Meyer, who claimed Cody retired from his final police station to keep away from demotion over sexual misconduct allegations.
Meyer mentioned his paper was approached by Cody’s former colleagues in regards to the allegations of sexual misconduct, however that the greater than six nameless sources in the end by no means went public and reporters had been unable to acquire Cody’s personnel file.
The Kansas City Police Department has declined to disclose whether or not Cody was charged with sexual misconduct whereas on the job.
Meyer mentioned the identities of the sources had been on the pc servers that Cody’s workforce seized.
“I may be paranoid that this has anything to do with it, but when people confiscate your computer, you tend to be a little paranoid,” Meyer mentioned. The Hand Basket.
He instructed The Kansas City star that they had not but revealed the story, as a result of that they had not but accomplished their analysis.
“We didn’t publish it because we couldn’t get it to the point where we thought it was ready for publication,” Meyer mentioned.
“(Cody) didn’t know who our sources were. Now it is.’
And Meyer told AP, “This is the kind of thing that, you know, Vladimir Putin does, that Third World dictators do.
“This is World War II Gestapo tactics.”
Cody grew to become Chief of the Marion County Police Department in late April, after retiring from the Kansas City Police Department
Brian Karman, Cody’s enterprise companion, who labored with him for 20 years, mentioned he was unaware of any allegations towards Cody.
“No, not as far as I know,” Karman mentioned The New York Post.
He mentioned it could be out of character.
“I’ve known him for 20 years. I’ve never heard of such allegations.’
The Marion County Police Department said on Saturday they were determined to enforce the law without commenting on the substance of the raid.
“The Marion Kansas Police Department believes it is the fundamental duty of the police to ensure the safety, security and well-being of all members of the public,” the division wrote on Facebook.
“This commitment must remain steadfast and unbiased, unaffected by political or media influence, to uphold the principles of justice, equal protection and the rule of law for all in the community.
“The victim is asking that we do everything the law allows to ensure that justice is served. The Marion Kansas Police Department will do no less.”
The second police raided Marion County Record’s newsroom utilizing ‘Hitler tactics’ has been caught on digital camera – only a day earlier than the paper’s co-owner died
Images of the raid on the editorial workplace present how officers enter with cameras on Friday
The raid befell after leaked paperwork about native restaurateur Kari Newell with the ability to revoke her liquor license had been handed over to the newspaper.
Meyer didn’t publicize the Newell story as a result of he questioned its supply — and as an alternative instructed police in regards to the data.
Newell then accused the weekly of illegally acquiring her private data, which led to the search.
She was additionally reportedly dissatisfied with newspaper protection of how Newell kicked reporters out of an occasion at her restaurant, Kari’s Restaurant.
Meyer instructed the Kansas City star“We sent them a note saying that a source had given us a file that we thought was of suspicious origin.
“We checked it to make sure it was correct, but we had no intention of doing anything with it. Their response was typical bully fashion.
“Instead of asking a question or getting equipment, they came with a nuclear fly swatter to confiscate our equipment and apparently tried to bankrupt us.”
The search warrant for the raid
Kari Newell accused the weekly of illegally acquiring her private data, prompting the search. She was additionally reportedly sad with newspaper protection of how Newell kicked reporters out of an occasion at her restaurant, Kari’s Restaurant (occasion pictured)
Joan died the day after the raid and Eric mentioned it was grief over the scenario that brought about her demise.
The day after the raid, Eric mentioned it was grief over the scenario that brought about her demise.
Before Joan died, she instructed The Wichita Eagle in regards to the raids, “These are Hitler’s tactics and something has to be done.”
Around 1:30 p.m. the subsequent day, Eric Meyer wakened his mom to supply her breakfast — however she mentioned she couldn’t bear it.
Eric mentioned, “Right in the midst of the sentence died.
“I’m disturbed – I selected that phrase fastidiously – as a result of everyone seems to be popping out that they’re raiding our workplace, however what bothers me probably the most is {that a} 98-year-old girl spent her final day on Earth feeling attacked by bullies who invaded her home. ‘