Frustration filled the air Thursday night in front of the Law Enforcement Center as the family of Dominique White and about 100 others gathered at a peaceful protest calling for police transparency.
White, 30, was shot and killed by two Topeka police officers on Sept. 28.
Many of White’s family members donned black hoodies that read “Say his name, Dominique White.”
“We’re out here so that we can show protest to the police department that we’re not going away,” Kelly White, Dominique’s father, told the crowd. “This matter’s not going nowhere. They’re not going to be able to sweep this under the rug, it’s not going to be able to be hidden away. We’re going to be here until we get some answers.”
Supporters chanted “No justice, no peace,” and “We want answers.” At one point, the group took a knee in a symbolic gesture that has recently caused controversy in the National Football League.
Those gathered called for police to release body camera footage of the incident and for the department to release the names of the officers who fired at Dominique White.
Authorities responded to a report of a disturbance involving shots being fired on Sept. 28 in Ripley Park, near S.E. 3rd and Lawrence. According to a statement from police that day, two officers confronted Dominique White. After seeing that he was armed, a struggle ensued and two officers fired at White, killing him.
White’s family contends that police haven’t provided them with further information about what transpired.
“We have continued to communicate with the family and have shared the information that we can,” city of Topeka spokeswoman Molly Hadfield said on Thursday.
The Lawrence Police Department is investigating the homicide.
“There are a few things that investigators are finishing up with before sending it over to the Shawnee County District Attorney’s office,” LPD Sgt. Amy Rhoads said in an email Thursday. “I do not have a time frame of when this will occur.”
Open records requests for body cam footage, the names of officers involved, dispatch communication and other documents have been denied by the Topeka and Lawrence police departments and the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, who cited exemptions for the safety of officers and the ongoing investigation.
Several people spoke during the event.
“Dominique’s death at the hands of those sworn to protect and serve the community where he lived is heartbreaking enough, let alone not having answers on when, who and why this happened,” said Trinity Carpenter, of Lawrence. “For far too long, there has been double standards in place for police officers involved in incidents of brutality, misconduct and murder. It’s time to be on the side of justice.”
White’s sister, 17-year-old Jadelyn White, also addressed those gathered. She said she had viewed police violence on social media, but never thought it could happen in Topeka or to someone she knows. She also talked about who Dominique was.
“He was cool, he wouldn’t judge nobody, he was really the type of dude to sit there, no matter what your background was and be there for you, in any way” she said. “There was people that I didn’t even know that knew him coming up to me and he was big to them. You know, that’s just wow.”
For nearly a year, Spencer Crowl, who is part of Topekans for Racial Justice, has advocated for a citizen review board.
“I stick with the statement that there’s never been an instance where police can successfully police themselves,” he said. “It necessitates civilian oversight. That civilian oversight must be independent.”
Leslie Vetaw attended the protest to lend support to the Whites and call for justice in the unsolved homicide of her son, Kenneth Vetaw, who was shot in August.
“We want justice, justice, justice,” she said.
