Fmr. KCPD Sergeant Pleads Guilty To Excessive Force Against Teen

Like it or not . . .

Jackson County Prosecutor Mean Jean scores another victory for her office in an ongoing fight against police.

Remember when this case first started . . . There was an allegation that the po-po were on this youngster's neck . . . Along with more typical complaints against law enforcement. There's was no mention of that today in deets of serious sanctions against the former law enforcement officer.

We'll start with the statement from the courthouse that was just released moments ago . . .

Former KCPD sergeant pleads guilty to excessive force against a KC teen

A former Kansas City Police Department sergeant, Matthew Neal, 42, pleaded guilty today to felony assault charges for excessive force he used against a Kansas City juvenile in November 2019, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced.

A Jackson County judge accepted Neal’s plea of guilty. Neal agreed he cannot carry a firearm and he would surrender his post license required to be a police officer, complete an anger management class, have no contact with the victim or his family and would send a written apology to the victim. Those were conditions of his 4-year probation.

Neal’s attorney told the court that Neal had resigned from the Kansas City police department yesterday.

The victim in this case did not make an appearance because of his strong interest in maintaining his privacy, Deputy Prosecutor Dion Sankar told the court. "The state remains in communication with the (young) victim in this case…The state would note that the victim thanks this court and others for the work put into this case. He fully supports this outcome and the finality it will bring."

This case was not charged by way of complaint using a probable cause statement. Rather, Neal was charged by Jackson County citizens who served on the grand jury by way of indictment. This office thanks the local and federal law enforcement agencies who assisted in this matter.

In 2020, during her announcement of the charges, Baker noted, “I hope all involved in this case and our community will rally around this victim and support him.”  Today, the office asks for the community's continued support of this young man.

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Meanwhile, progressive perspective from the newspaper and the mainstream story that most newsies will impose on the public . . .

"We should not celebrate criminal convictions, and we won’t do so here. Instead, we hope Kansas Citians will use this day to reflect, and commit to making the police department, and its officers, better.

"Kansas City must rededicate itself to developing and implementing a truly independent public review process so that complaints can be addressed and appropriate steps taken. We also hope Kansas City police officers learn lessons from this case. Policing is very hard work, and dangerous. Most officers are hardworking and dedicated. We support them.

"At the same time, the rank and file know the bad actors in their ranks."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Guilty plea in teen's assault is welcome, but Kansas City police are still in crisis

OPINION AND COMMENTARY Matthew Neal, now a former Kansas City police sergeant, pleaded guilty Thursday to the felony assault of a teenage suspect in his custody almost exactly three years ago. It has taken far too long to reach this day of justice, but the plea is still welcome.

More deets from a better sources . . .

Former KC Police sergeant pleads guilty to assaulting teenager

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City Police sergeant pleaded guilty to assaulting a 15-year-old boy while on duty. In court Thursday, Matthew Thomas Neal admitted to a judge that he put his knee on the back of the victim's head and neck in November 2019.

Former KCPD sergeant pleads guilty to using excessive force against teen

I called you all here today for a pretty brief announcement, but I'll take some questions when we're finished. And, um, the reason you're called here today is is because the grand jury just issued an indictment earlier today. Now, I'll tell you, and I wish I wasn't standing at this podium by myself.