IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION urging Missouri Governor Mike Parson to not pardon Eric DeValkenaere.
Intro
RESOLUTION NO. 21405, September 25, 2023
INTRODUCED BY Jalen Anderson, Donna Peyton, and Manuel Abarca IV, County Legislators
Body
WHEREAS, 26-year-old Cameron Darnell Lamb was killed on December 3, 2019, by Kansas City, Missouri, Police Detective Eric DeValkenaere; and,
WHEREAS, on June 18, 2020, Detective Eric DeValkenaere was indicted by a Jackson County, Missouri grand jury for involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action, leading to charges filed by the Jackson County, Missouri, Prosecuting Attorney; and,
WHEREAS, Eric DeValkenaere chose to have a bench trial and have a judge decide his guilt or innocence rather than a jury of his peers; and,
WHEREAS, Eric Devalkenaere’s four-day bench trial began November 8, 2021, before the Honorable Judge J. Dale Youngs in Division 6 of the Jackson County Circuit Court; and,
WHEREAS, on November 19, 2021, Detective Eric DeValkenaere was found guilty by Judge Youngs of Involuntary Manslaughter and Armed Criminal Action for killing Cameron Lamb; and,
WHEREAS, during the trial, Judge Youngs found that Cameron was in his truck in his own backyard, backing into his garage, that he was unarmed and posed no threat when Detective DeValkenaere shot and killed him; and,
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2022, Judge Youngs sentenced Eric DeValkenaere to six years in prison in the Missouri Department of Corrections; and,
WHEREAS, former Detective DeValkenaere is the first Kansas City, Missouri, Police Officer convicted of deadly force; and,
WHEREAS, Eric DeValkenaere remains free on bond; and,
WHEREAS, on June 13, 2023, Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters-Baker sent a letter to Missouri Governor Mike Parson urging him not to pardon DeValkenaere, writing, “...pardons are political actions by design and are not devised for the innocent but for the guilty;” and,
WHEREAS, numerous local and national civil rights leaders and organizations have spoken out against any pardon for Eric DeValkenaere; and,
WHEREAS, pardoning former Detective DeValkenaere will send a dangerous precedent, and message to local law enforcement that they will not be held accountable for violent criminal acts, and further erode trust between the community, law enforcement, and our judicial system, and endanger the health and safety of our entire county; and,
WHEREAS, it is pertinent to public safety that the law be applied impartially and those convicted be held accountable equally; and,
WHEREAS, the victim, Cameron “CD” Lamb was a talented and beloved father, son, brother, and friend, whose life was tragically cut short; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the County Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri that the Legislature hereby strongly urges Missouri Governor Mike Parson to not pardon Eric DeValkenaere for the death of Cameron Lamb.
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Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its passage by a majority of the Legislature.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
____________________________
County Counselor
Certificate of Passage
I hereby certify that the attached resolution, Resolution No. 21405 of September 25, 2023, was duly passed on September 25, 2023 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas ______5_________ Nays _____2_________
Abstaining ___1______ Absent ____1________
________________________ ____________________________
Date Mary Jo Spino, Clerk of Legislature