WRITER: Mackenzie Clark

Douglas County sheriff candidates voice range of opinions on jail expansion, including opposition

None of the three candidates for Douglas County sheriff spoke firmly in favor of expanding the Douglas County Jail during an online forum Thursday afternoon, and one said he opposes it. Rob Hulse, executive vice president of the Lawrence Board of Realtors, and Danielle Davey, governmental affairs director for the board, moderated the forum. In the order that they filed, Democratic candidates Lt. Jay ...

Lawrence Police Department has updated policies on use of force, comparisons to ‘8 Can’t Wait’

Story updated at 5:43 p.m. Wednesday: As the aftermath of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis continues to ripple across the globe, civilians want to know what is being done to prevent such an incident from happening in their hometowns. The Lawrence Police Department last week published a new policy manual to its website. The previous published policy on use of force had last been updated in December 2016; ...

Suspect shot by law enforcement in Lawrence Monday was wanted in connection with Omaha homicide

Story updated at 12:25 p.m. Tuesday A man fatally shot by law enforcement Monday afternoon in Lawrence has been identified as Nicholas Ryan Hirsh, 31, a homicide suspect from Nebraska, according to Omaha, Neb., police. Omaha police officers had responded to a shooting call just after noon Thursday, June 11, and found a male victim dead inside an apartment, according to a news release from OPD. The victim was ...

A rundown of how Lawrence police can and cannot use their body cameras and how the public can record police interactions

Law enforcement has come under new scrutiny nationwide after George Floyd died May 25 in Minneapolis, Minn., after ex-officer Derek Chauvin held his knee on Floyd’s neck in the street for nearly nine minutes. Usage of body-worn cameras — and failure to capture some incidents — has been one topic of concern. Chauvin and three other Minneapolis officers were wearing body cameras; however, that kind of ...

Police shoot, kill man wanted by U.S. Marshals after chase into Lawrence

Story updated at 7:20 p.m. Monday: Law enforcement officers shot and killed a suspect following a car chase that ended in Lawrence around 3:30 p.m. Monday. The suspect, a white man, was sought by U.S. Marshals, Kansas Highway Patrol Technical Trooper Don Hughes said at the scene. KHP officers located the suspect in Jefferson County and followed him into Lawrence, where KHP officers backed off and slowed down. ...

Rontarus Washington Jr., jailed 5 years on suspicion of Lawrence murder, to receive new bond hearing; defense alleges misconduct by state

Updated at 2:58 p.m. Friday After being held in custody for about five years and three months on $750,000 bond, Rontarus Washington Jr., 23, will soon receive a new bail hearing. Washington was arrested in early 2015 and charged with first-degree murder and aggravated burglary in connection with the November 2014 death of his 19-year-old neighbor, Justina Altamirano Mosso. He has been awaiting a second trial ...