A lawsuit against an Olathe police officer who shot and killed a man in a mental health crisis on New Year’s Eve in 2022, as well as the city of Olathe, can move forward. In a ruling published this week, Judge Julie Robinson of the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kansas, denied parts of the officer’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, ruling that the officer is not eligible for qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that permits some government officials — like police officers — to avoid personal liability in some instances. The judge also declined to dismiss the city as a defendant in the lawsuit. However, the judge did dismiss one of the claims as they pertained to the officer in his official capacity.
Source: Johnson County Post