Five Black women have filed a lawsuit against the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department (KCKPD), accusing officers of rape, intimidation, and abuse of power. The lawsuit names former police chiefs Thomas Dailey, James Swafford, and Ronald Miller, as well as detectives and former detectives Terry Zeigler, Michael Kill, Clayton Bye, Dennis Ware, and Roger Golubski. Golubski, who retired in 2010, is specifically accused of raping four of the five women.
The 138-page lawsuit alleges that the officers used their authority to stalk, assault, beat, rape, harass, frame, and threaten Black citizens. Golubski, in particular, faces additional charges of kidnapping and raping two different women, as well as involvement in a sex trafficking ring that victimized minors in the 1990s. The women claim that the pervasive rape, harassment, and violence within the force prevented them from reporting their experiences.
The lawsuit also accuses KCKPD of failing to adequately train, supervise, and discipline its members, compromising community safety. Golubski is further accused of working to secure wrongful convictions for several Black men, including a 16-year-old who was sentenced to 23 years in prison for a double homicide in 1984.
The allegations in this lawsuit echo a similar case involving former Oklahoma City police officer Daniel Holtzclaw, who was convicted in 2016 of sexually assaulting and raping 13 Black women. The plaintiffs’ attorney, William Skepnek, expressed concern over the systemic corruption and its impact on families and communities.
The KCKPD has not yet responded to requests for comment. The lawsuit and the federal charges against Golubski highlight the need for reforms to protect individuals who are in police custody. A BuzzFeed News report revealed that between 2006 and 2016, at least 26 law enforcement officers who were charged with sexually assaulting detainees invoked the “consent defense” and were either acquitted or had their charges dropped.
