KC Police Wrongful Death: Lamb, DeValkenaere Settlement

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

Support African Elements at patreon.com/africanelements and hear recent news in a single playlist. Additionally, you can gain early access to ad-free video content.

The killing of Cameron Lamb in his own backyard by a Kansas City police detective sent shockwaves through our community. It highlighted, yet again, the fraught relationship between law enforcement and Black citizens. While a recent multi-million dollar settlement aims to provide some resolution, many feel it falls short of true justice, especially after the officer-involved saw his prison sentence drastically cut short.

This case involves former KCPD detective Eric DeValkenaere, who fatally shot Lamb in December 2019. The events sparked outrage, legal battles, and intense debate about accountability, ultimately leading to a significant financial payout but leaving deep questions unanswered. Let’s unpack the details of the settlement, the controversial commutation, and what this means for accountability in Kansas City.

The $4.1 Million Wrongful Death Settlement

In April 2025, a federal judge officially approved a $4.1 million settlement between Cameron Lamb’s family and the Kansas City Police Department (The Least Amount of Justice; KCUR). This agreement resolved the civil rights lawsuit filed by the family after the 2019 killing. Such lawsuits, known as wrongful death actions, are civil cases brought when someone’s death is allegedly caused by another party’s negligence or intentional act. In police misconduct cases like Lamb’s, these suits often argue that officers violated constitutional rights, such as the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable seizures (unlawful killing) and unlawful entry (Police Brutality Center; Jackson County Prosecutor).

The settlement funds were distributed specifically among Lamb’s family members. His three children each received $474,500, placed into trusts designed to protect the funds until they reach adulthood (Law.com; StructuredSettlements.com). Courts often mandate trusts for minors in these situations to ensure responsible management. Lamb’s father received $50,000. Approximately half of the total $4.1 million settlement went towards legal fees and costs (The Least Amount of Justice). High legal costs are common in complex civil rights litigation, often driven by contingency fee arrangements where attorneys finance the case in exchange for a percentage (typically 30-40%) of the final award, plus expenses for investigations and expert witnesses (Express Legal Funding).

Crucially, the settlement included a standard “no admission of guilt” clause. This means neither the KCPD nor Eric DeValkenaere formally admitted any wrongdoing or liability for Lamb’s death (The Community Voice; KSHB). Municipalities and police departments frequently insist on these clauses to protect themselves from future lawsuits and avoid setting legal precedents (Minnesota Law Review; Lawyers FTP). Furthermore, the settlement shielded DeValkenaere from personal financial liability; the $4.1 million comes from taxpayer funds or city insurance, not the officer’s own pocket (The Community Voice). This structure, common nationwide, limits individual consequences for officers involved in misconduct (Wikipedia – Breonna Taylor; Wikipedia – George Floyd).

Eric DeValkenaere Pardon Stirs Outrage

Eric DeValkenaere holds the grim distinction of being the first KCPD officer ever convicted of killing a Black man (PBS NewsHour). In 2021, a judge found him guilty of second-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action (PBS NewsHour; The Grio). The conviction stemmed from DeValkenaere’s reckless actions leading to Lamb’s death. Second-degree involuntary manslaughter implies the death resulted from recklessness, not necessarily intent (Jackson County Prosecutor; LawInfo).

Prosecutors successfully argued that DeValkenaere and his partner entered Lamb’s property without a warrant or probable cause, violating his Fourth Amendment rights (Jackson County Prosecutor; Spectrum Local News). This illegal entry was critical, as it undermined any legal justification for their presence or use of force. Furthermore, evidence suggested DeValkenaere escalated the situation and staged the scene afterward. Phone recordings captured officers demanding Lamb show his hands *before* the shooting, contradicting claims Lamb pointed a gun first (Jackson County Prosecutor). Forensic evidence also indicated Lamb, who was left-handed, had injuries, making it unlikely he could have held or aimed a gun as police described (Jackson County Prosecutor). Ultimately, the court concluded DeValkenaere planted evidence to justify the killing (Spectrum Local News; KCUR).

DeValkenaere was initially sentenced to six years in prison. However, in December 2024, Missouri Governor Mike Parson commuted his sentence after DeValkenaere had served only about one year (KCUR; Kansas City Defender). A commutation reduces a sentence but doesn’t erase the conviction; it’s an act of executive clemency (The Justice Firm). This decision sparked immediate and widespread outrage, particularly within Kansas City’s Black community (KCUR). Civil rights leaders and activists condemned the commutation, labeling it a “betrayal of justice” and a “flagrant endorsement of systemic racism” (Kansas City Defender; St. Louis American). The move was seen by many as undermining the rare instance of police accountability achieved through the conviction.

KCPD Police Misconduct: A Costly Pattern

The $4.1 million paid to Cameron Lamb’s family is part of a larger, troubling pattern of expensive settlements involving the Kansas City Police Department. These payouts highlight ongoing issues with police conduct and accountability within the force and represent a significant financial burden for the city’s taxpayers.

Between 2021 and 2024 alone, Kansas City shelled out over $19 million in settlements related to police actions (KSHB; The Community Voice). This staggering figure averages out to $14,187 per day paid from public funds over that three-year period. A significant portion of these costs stems from allegations of excessive force. For instance, during 2022 and 2023, KCPD paid roughly $10 million specifically for excessive force claims (Police Funding Database; KSHB). Included in these payouts were settlements for cases like those of Jaleel Stallings ($1.5M) and Anjanette Young ($2.9M), although specific details of those incidents were not provided in the available sources (Police Funding Database; Police Funding Database Page 1). This consistent stream of high-dollar settlements suggests deep-rooted problems within the department.

Systemic accountability issues often contribute to these repeated incidents and subsequent payouts. Factors like qualified immunity, which often shields officers from personal financial liability in civil suits unless they violate “clearly established” rights, play a role (Police Brutality Center). Additionally, internal disciplinary processes within police departments are frequently criticized as too lenient, failing to adequately address misconduct (Death Penalty Information Center). Evidence of institutional issues surfaced in the Lamb case itself when KCPD reportedly forwarded a questionable domestic violence report against Lamb *after* his death, an action seen by some as an attempt to posthumously smear his character (KSHB Timeline). Therefore, the multi-million dollar settlements, while providing some compensation to victims’ families, often fail to address the underlying causes of police misconduct.

Missouri Police Brutality: Is Money Justice?

While settlements provide financial relief, community activists and families affected by police violence often question whether money truly equals justice. The $4.1 million for Cameron Lamb’s family came after immense pain and a legal battle that highlighted deep flaws in the system. Yet, the officer responsible served minimal time, and the department admitted no fault.

Advocates argue that large, taxpayer-funded payouts can inadvertently incentivize police misconduct (The Community Voice; KSHB). When officers face no personal financial consequences, and cities simply pay out settlements as a cost of doing business, there’s less pressure for meaningful reform or individual accountability. This cycle is seen in cities across the country, where millions are spent annually on police misconduct settlements without significant changes in officer behavior or departmental policies (People’s Law Office; Lawyers FTP). Indeed, officers involved in fatal encounters or those with repeated complaints often remain on the force, perpetuating risk (People’s Law Office; KSHB Timeline).

The concept of “excessive force” is central to many of these cases. It refers to physical force used by law enforcement that exceeds the reasonable and necessary level to handle a situation (Police Brutality Center). Legally, it’s often evaluated based on the “objective reasonableness” standard established in *Graham v. Connor*. Events like the murder of George Floyd, where an officer knelt on his neck for over nine minutes, are stark examples of excessive force (Wikipedia – George Floyd). In Lamb’s case, the unprovoked shooting in his own garage after an illegal entry clearly raised questions about the necessity and proportionality of the force used. Nonetheless, the financial settlement doesn’t undo the harm or guarantee such actions won’t happen again. As Cameron Lamb’s mother heartbreakingly stated about the settlement, “This helps, but I’d rather have my son back,” underscoring the profound emotional cost that money cannot truly compensate (KSHB; The Least Amount of Justice).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman is a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College, where he has been teaching since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.