A Great Bend Police Department video that shows local attorney Donald Anderson II ordering GBPD officers to leave his office and never trespass there again after they responded to a 2 a.m. open door report in May was posted to social media on Sunday.
Anderson has apologized for his behavior, saying he was caught off guard when police walked into his building.
The body cam video shows officers entering a downtown building at 1:50 a.m. on Sunday, May 19, saying “Hello? Police Department.” Anderson, who was inside with others, tells the officers to “get out, right now.”
“I’m not joking; step outside and f-ing knock on the door,” Anderson said.
“No one invited you,” Anderson tells the officers, adding “don’t ever walk in my building again.”
Once outside, the officers and Anderson continue to talk. Anderson becomes more animated, sometimes using expletives and gestures when Officer Eric Jones tells him to lower his voice and suggests he could be arrested for disturbing the peace. Anderson demands, “Arrest me. Cuff me right now, tough guy.”
“The problem is, you’re a douche-bag cop,” he says.
Jones reminds him that the door was open and it was 2 o’clock in the morning.
“So you f-ing knock.”
Anderson is talking to Officer Jones while the incident is recorded by Officer Jeremiah Slattery’s body camera. When the confrontation starts to escalate, Sgt. Gary Davis is called. The dispatch log shows Davis responded to the 1800 block of Park Ave. for an open door report. Anderson was inside with a few friends. The log shows Davis was on scene from 1:54 to 2:12 a.m. and the situation was “C-4,” which indicated everything was under control.
The Great Bend Tribune contacted Anderson on Monday and received this response:
“I had initially decided that I wasn’t going to comment on the video published by Great Bend’s Fraternal Order of Police. This is not the kind of campaign I have run, nor is it the kind of campaign I want to participate in. However, after some reflection, I believe that there are some important things that need to be said.
“First and foremost, there is no excuse for my behavior in that video. I was caught off guard when the officers entered my office unexpectedly and, in the moment, I reacted in a way I’m not proud of. Officer Jones did not deserve that in any way.
“Second, once the moment had passed and Officer Jones had left, Sgt. Davis came into my office upon my invitation where we talked and I told him something to the effect of I did not handle the situation well and my actions were out of line. Sgt Davis’ body-cam recording was also provided to the Great Bend Fraternal Order of Police but to my knowledge that recording was not published by them.
“Finally, later that same week, I contacted Officer Jones’ supervisor, Sergeant Davis, and requested that he reach out to Officer Jones on my behalf to see if he would be willing to speak with me so I could apologize to him. Officer Jones and I were able to meet in person the following week and I was able to apologize to Officer Jones and take responsibility for my actions. This conversation happened long before I knew that there was footage or that the incident would be used as a campaign prop. I reached out to Officer Jones right after the incident because I was wrong and making amends was the right thing to do.”
Police Chief Steve Haulmark confirmed that the Fraternal Order of Police obtained the body camera footage of Officer Jeremiah Slattery by filing a Kansas Open Records Act request. The video shows Anderson confronting Officer Eric Jones, who is no longer with the GBPD, and later speaking to Davis.
The FOP post summaries the video this way:
On May 19th, at 1:50 a.m., Anderson was at a building where a dispatched open door call was being investigated.
Jay Bachar, spokesperson for the Great Bend Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 23, posted a summary of the incident, noting Anderson is currently campaigning as a candidate for district judge of the 20th Judicial District.
“The remarks and behavior exhibited by Don Anderson are deeply troubling and wholly unbecoming of a judicial candidate,” Bachar stated. “A judge must uphold the highest standards of respect and impartiality, and Mr. Anderson’s actions suggest he lacks these essential qualities.”
The video can be viewed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/l_GCBjvpLGk.
The FOP states, “Body cam footage shows Anderson was being belligerent and also stated at one point, ‘cops don’t like me in general and I don’t like cops in general.’ This statement was accompanied by disruptive behavior towards the officers present, including making derogatory gestures that implied one of the officers was mentally impaired. Such conduct raises serious questions about Anderson’s ability to impartially serve as a district judge. ... His open disdain for law enforcement officials could compromise his ability to administer justice fairly and without bias.”
Fact check: The statement was made after the earlier behavior. Davis ordered Jones to leave and then he and Anderson continued to talk.
The FOP posted only about 5 seconds of the separate conversation between Anderson and Davis as the situation was defused. It can be heard at https://www.facebook.com/100064858713485/videos/pcb.878355654336384/814391757100774.
