Two KCKPD Officers Plead Guilty to Violating Civil Rights

Thefts While Serving Search Warrants Caught on Video

WICHITA, KS—Two Kansas City Kansas police officers have pleaded guilty to stealing cash and electronics from a house where they served a search warrant, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Darrell M. Forrest, 32, Kansas City, Kan., and Dustin Sillings, 34, Kansas City, Kan., each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy against civil rights. The officers were charged under a federal civil rights statute that makes it a crime for police officers acting under color of law to deny or conspire to deny anyone’s civil rights.

“These officers abused their power and violated the public trust,” said U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom. “They are being held accountable. All citizens have the right to the protection of honest, professional law enforcement.”

In his plea, Forrest admitted that on Jan. 4, 2011, he stole $300 in cash, two video game cartridges, and an Apple iPod Touch from a house at 730 Everett in Kansas City, Kan. Forrest and other members of the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department’s Selective Crime Occurrence Reduction Enforcement Unit (SCORE Unit) were at the house to serve what they believed was a search warrant. In fact, they were the target of a sting operation. The FBI and the Internal Affairs Unit of the KCKPD were monitoring the house. Investigators placed a total of $2,500 cash, electronic hand held games, a music player, drugs, and a handgun in the house before the SCORE unit arrived.

In his plea, Sillings admitted he stole $340 in cash from the house. In addition, he admitted taking five or six PlayStation games during prior SCORE search warrants. Sillings was overheard saying that it was a pity the house did not have more “swag.”

The plea agreement also states that on July 8, 2010, a resident of Kansas City, Kan., reported to the KCKPD Internal Affairs Unit that several items, including a FLIP camcorder, had been stolen from her residence during a search by the SCORE unit. On Jan. 14, 2011, investigators found a FLIP camcorder on the rear floorboard of a patrol car that Forrest had been driving.

Sentencing is set for June 5. Forrest and Sillings face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Co-defendant Jeffrey M. Bell is set for a change of plea hearing at 10 a.m. Jan. 18.

U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom commended the Kansas City Kansas Police Department, the FBI, and the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office for their work on the case. Grissom and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt prosecuted the case.