It’s now inevitable that former Kansas City Police Detective Eric J. DeValkenaere, convicted in 2021 for fatally shooting a Black man who had just returned home, will not serve out his 6-year prison sentence.
He’ll barely serve one year of it. Missouri’s Gov.-Elect Mike Kehoe, a friend of the imprisoned cop and his wife, told reporters last week he’ll commute DeValkenaere’s sentence once he takes office. That is unless Missouri’s current Gov. Mike Parson doesn’t pardon him first.
“I’ve met Sarah and Eric before he was imprisoned – and I would say wrongly,” Kehoe said last week. “I believe we need to have Eric’s back. I’ve been very vocal in saying should I succeed in running for governor, Eric DeValkenaere will be home with his family. I still am hopeful and prayerful that happens before I get into the governor’s office.”
Back in September, Parson said he, too, was inclined to release DeValkenaere, 45, telling a Kansas City radio station that the case had been politicized by an overzealous prosecutor.