New plan to review Golubski’s old cases is met with criticism

Tuesday, Nov. 22 Update: KCTV5 News has received word that funding has been worked out to support the $1.7 million project.

Previous coverage is below.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - We’re learning more about a $1.7 million plan within the Unified Government to review the cases of disgraced retired KCK police detective Roger Golubski.

The chief of police, District Attorney Mark Dupree, and the mayor appeared together at a news conference in KCK to lay out the details of the plan. But, the devil is in the details and many critics are unimpressed.

Officials say they’ll take a look at 155 of Golubski’s cases — cases he was actively involved in and have his name on the reports. Golubski was on the KCKPD force for more than 30 years and was promoted to detective. His partner, Terry Zeigler, became chief. Officials at the news conference today say they will also look into cases from Edwardsville, Kansas, where Golubski went to work after retiring from the KCKPD.

Golubski is facing federal charges related to rape, kidnapping, and sex trafficking. Federal prosecutors say the crimes took place while Golubski was a police officer. But accusers say the crimes go well beyond those. Some say Golubski pressured witnesses to lie, leading to innocent people being imprisoned. Golubski is accused of protecting some criminals while harassing and threatening the innocent. Some say this behavior went on for years. Only one man, Lamonte McIntyre, has been exonerated. Others claim their convictions show similar patterns of coercion and revenge.

Last week, advocates called for outside investigation by the Department of Justice. However, KCK Police Chief Karl Oakman says the investigation needs to stay within Wyandotte County.

“Who better to clean their own house than those who are involved in it?” asked Oakman.

He believes that he’s in the best position to head the investigation because, while he is the chief, he was named to the post a year and a half ago and had not worked in the department during Golubski’s tenure.

“I came from the outside,” said Oakman. “I don’t know Roger Golubski, never met the man, so I feel confident. I’m the final review and final say. I will see everything that’s reviewed and presented.”

District Attorney Mark Dupree agrees. He blames former Chief Terry Zeigler for the lack of investigation.

“Until 2021, when Chief Oakman came into play, cooperation from KCKPD was unable to happen with the FBI,” said Dupree. “Information was not passed along. The investigation was stunted and this department was not cooperative with that investigation until Chief Oakman got into place.”

We reached out to Terry Ziegler for a response; he called Dupree’s statement a lie and framed it as politics.

We asked some of those seeking an outside investigation if they trust the police department to do the review.

“No, I do not,” said Ophelia Williams, an accuser, “because it’s been hidden so long. How can you trust them all of the sudden? I don’t think that will work too good.”

That sentiment is being echoed by others. Team ROC came to Kansas City last week, calling for a Department of Justice pattern or practice investigation — it would include a review of the entire department. The organization released the following statement after the Wyandotte County news conference this afternoon:

A statement from Morgan Pilate and the Midwest Innocence Project said, in part, that the department has had more than enough time to investigate:

ALSO READ: KCK police plans to review retired detective Roger Golubski’s old cases

For more on Roger Golubski, click here.

Copyright 2022 KCTV. All rights reserved.