Content warning: This article contains details of a police-involved shooting. The fatal shooting of a man by Cedar Rapids Police Department officers on April 6 was justified, according to a report issued on Monday by the Iowa Attorney General’s Office. Three CRPD officers fired their weapons at 39-year-old David Vanderhamm after Vanderhamm pointed the weapon […]
Cedar Rapids Police Department
Posted inCommunity/News
About 60% of CRCSD students returned to class Tuesday as social media threats remain under investigation
Classes resumed at public schools in Cedar Rapids Tuesday after being canceled on Monday due to threats made on social media over the weekend. Students were not allowed to bring bags into the schools, except for clear backpacks, and the number of entrances to buildings left unlocked were restricted. During a news conference on Tuesday […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids Police, FBI investigating threats that caused closure of CRCSD schools on Monday
All Cedar Rapids public schools were closed on Monday as a response to threats posted on social media. The Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) informed parents and staff of the closure in an email sent shortly before 9:30 p.m. on Sunday night. “This closure is for the safety of all students and staff,” CRCSD […]
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Cedar Rapids settles lawsuit for $10,000 that alleged police review board discriminated against white applicants by requiring at least five POC members
This story originally appeared in LV Daily, Little Village’s Monday-Friday email newsletter. Sign up to have it delivered for free to your inbox. The City of Cedar Rapids will pay $10,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a resident who claimed the selection process for a city board that reviews police conduct was prejudiced against […]
Posted inCommunity/News
After almost two months, the man who stabbed Devonna Walker has been arrested
Fifty-six days after the stabbing death of Devonna Walker, the Linn County Attorney’s Office has charged Shane Teslik with Voluntary Manslaughter and Disorderly Conduct. Walker died after being stabbed during a confrontation with Teslik and his wife in front of their home in Cedar Rapids on Jan. 2. There hasn’t been any question regarding who […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa Attorney General’s Office concludes fatal shooting by CRPD officers was justified
Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks has closed the investigation into a fatal shooting of William Rich by two Cedar Rapids Police Department officers on Aug. 30. Maybanks’ decision follows a review of the shooting by the Iowa Attorney General’s Office that found the actions of Sgt. Bryson Garringer and Investigator Christopher Christy “were entirely legally […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids Police release body-cam footage from fatal police shooting after protest
Shortly after noon on Thursday, the Cedar Rapids Police Department released body-camera footage of the fatal shooting of William Rich by CRPD officers on Aug. 30. The release of footage came two days after protesters marched from police headquarters to the Linn County Courthouse, demanding more information about the shooting. The CRPD video posted online […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Protesters march in Cedar Rapids to demand more information in fatal police shooting (Updated)
Update: On Wednesday night, Advocates for Social Justice announced the scheduled protest for Thursday evening was “on hold” because “The Rich family had been provided the opportunity to view the [CRPD body-camera] footage.” Protesters demanding more information about the fatal shooting of William Rich by Cedar Rapids police officers on Aug. 30, marched from the […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Linn County Attorney rules CRPD officers were justified in shooting suspect
After reviewing the actions of two Cedar Rapids police officers who shot a suspect during a traffic stop on July 30, Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks has concluded the officers acted “to avoid injury or risk to their lives and [the shooting] was reasonable under Iowa law.” Officer Blair Klostermann and Officer Matt Jenatscheck fired […]
Posted inEastern Iowa Community/News
Man drives his truck into protesters marching for abortion rights in Cedar Rapids
A man drove his pickup truck into protesters crossing a street in Cedar Rapids on Friday night. This happened at the end of a march in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision overruling Roe v. Wade and eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion, as protesters who had gathered for a rally and march […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapidians invited to weigh in on police oversight work through online ‘idea wall’
In response to public demands for more oversight of the police department, the Cedar Rapids City Council voted in February 2021 to create the Citizen Review Board (CRB), which held its first meeting in July last year. Now the CRB has launched a two-month effort to get more public input about its work. “Residents can […]
Posted inCommunity/News
CRCSD recommends removing school resource officers from middle schools
The Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) presented its recommended changes to the school resource officer program during Monday’s Board of Education meeting. A total of 14 recommendations were shared by district staff during the three-hour-long meeting, including removing the two school resource officers at McKinley and Roosevelt middle schools. Other recommendations included having the […]
