A Kansas City, Kansas, police detective has been charged with one felony count of unlawful acts concerning computers and one misdemeanor count of official misconduct. Detective John Stimach was booked into the Wyandotte County Jail on August 8 and was released after posting a $5,000 bond.
The charges, filed on August 7, stem from incidents that took place on or about April 24, according to the DA's office. A KCKPD spokesperson confirmed that Stimach is currently on unpaid leave while the case moves through the courts. Case investigators have released no further details about what prompted the charges, and the station notes the story is still developing.
Stimach was promoted from police officer to detective in early January 2024 during a department ceremony, according to a Kansas City, Kansas government bulletin. The bulletin identifies him as an officer. Investigators said he committed unlawful acts on a computer, per the report, though the precise nature of the data or systems allegedly involved has not been disclosed.
What the Charges Could Mean
Under Kansas Statutes Annotated § 21-5839, violations of subsections (a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(3) are generally classified as severity level 8 nonperson felonies, while violations of subsections (a)(4) and (a)(5) are class A nonperson misdemeanors; losses above $100,000 can result in a severity level 5 felony, according to the Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. The second count is described as a misdemeanor charge of official misconduct.
KCKPD's internal-complaint process is not detailed in the sources cited here. Karl Oakman was sworn in in June 2021 as the second Black police chief in the city's history, according to KCUR.
Part of a Broader Pattern of Scrutiny
Stimach's case is being investigated by the Wyandotte County District Attorney's Office. In July 2018, District Attorney Mark Dupree asked the County Board for funding to create a Conviction Integrity Unit, a proposal that prompted a dispute, according to Injustice Watch.
The sources cited here provide no further details about KCKPD's internal discipline practices or the availability of its oversight records.
Kansas law addresses computer-related conduct. It remains unclear whether Stimach's case involved law enforcement databases or whether the investigation began with an internal audit or an outside complaint. Neither investigators nor the district attorney's office has released further details, and the case remains open as it proceeds through Wyandotte County court.
