A former police detective in Kansas, who died in an apparent suicide just as he was about to stand trial for allegedly sexually assaulting and terrorizing vulnerable women for decades, was not permitted to possess a firearm during his house arrest.
Roger Golubski was discovered deceased on his back porch on Monday morning following a gunshot, as reported by a concerned neighbor. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation stated that there were no signs of any criminal activity.
It is important to note that Golubski had been placed under house arrest, and the court had explicitly prohibited him from having any firearms, destructive devices, or other weapons.
The untimely demise of Golubski, right before the commencement of jury selection at the federal courthouse in Topeka, has sparked inquiries into why the 71-year-old was not incarcerated and how a firearm found its way into his residence in Edwardsville, located outside Kansas City, Kansas.
Melissa Underwood, a bureau spokeswoman, stated that they will investigate how he acquired the firearm as part of the death investigation.
Why was Golubski on trial?
In 2022, Golubski, a former esteemed detective in Kansas City, faced six felony charges for violating the civil rights of women and girls.
According to prosecutors, he subjected them to sexual abuse and occasionally used threats of incarceration against them or their loved ones to coerce compliance.
The trial would primarily concentrate on two women. One of them revealed that Golubski initiated sexual abuse during her middle school years. The other woman disclosed that the abuse began after her twin sons got arrested.
Prosecutors further disclosed that seven additional women were prepared to testify against Golubski, accusing him of abuse and harassment. Advocates for the women strongly believe that there could be more victims who, either due to fear or death, have not come forward yet.
According to prosecutors, Golubski, who is white, targeted Black women and girls in some of the most impoverished neighborhoods in Kansas City.
There have been numerous cases of abuse across the country involving police officers who have been stripped of their badges following allegations of sexual assault. Golubski’s prosecution is just one example of this alarming trend.
The case was dismissed by the judge at the request of prosecutors following Golubski’s death.
Why was he placed under house arrest instead of being taken into custody?
Prosecutors sought Golubski’s immediate imprisonment, urging for his arrest just two days after a federal grand jury indicted him in September 2022.
However, U.S. Magistrate Judge Rachel Schwartz denied their request, stating that although the accusations were “shocking,” Golubski did not pose the same risk as he did at the time of the alleged abuse years ago.
According to Golubski’s attorney, he is currently facing health challenges. He is described as “sick and infirm” and requires medical attention due to his diabetes and recovery from quintuple bypass heart surgery.
Additionally, Golubski is undergoing kidney dialysis three times a week, and his trial has been scheduled to accommodate his treatment.
Was Golubski given special treatment?
Golubski’s accusers are of the opinion that he was given too much freedom while under house arrest. This sentiment was further fueled when they saw a video of him at a Culver’s restaurant after a medical appointment in January.
In response, Schwartz made the decision to tighten the conditions of Golubski’s house arrest, but did not order his detention.
Cheryl Pilate, an attorney representing some of Golubski’s accusers, expressed on Tuesday that people, regardless of the law, believe that if they were in the same situation, they would likely have been detained.
According to Barry Grissom, the former federal prosecutor in Kansas from 2010 to 2016, Golubski’s deep connections to the Kansas City area, as mentioned by the magistrate, suggest that he should not be detained. In line with this, Judge Schwartz ruled that Golubski must remain at home, with the exception of attending religious services and seeking medical care. Additionally, Golubski was prohibited from obtaining a passport.
According to Grissom, the individual in question had not been proven guilty, and therefore, like anyone else, was considered innocent.
And how did he acquire a firearm?
It seems like there is some confusion surrounding this matter.
According to Sean O’Brien, a law professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the authorities would have conducted a search of Golubski’s residence when his house arrest began. However, O’Brien clarifies that this does not mean that his house was under constant surveillance.
O’Brien expressed concerns about the security measures at the location, noting that there were many people coming and going. He speculated that someone could have easily brought a gun to the individual in question, suggesting that the search may not have been thorough enough.
After serving for several decades at the Kansas City police department, Golubski decided to retire in 2010. Following his retirement, he joined the Edwardsville police force, where he worked until 2016.
According to Edwardsville Chief Rance Quinn, the department provides firearms to its officers, and those who are in good standing are permitted to store them outside the department.
However, when Officer Golubski retired in 2016, he did not receive a firearm as a gift, as confirmed by Quinn.
According to Quinn, there were no missing firearms from the department on Monday morning. He also mentioned that the firearm found at the scene did not match the make or model used by the Edwardsville PD.
According to spokesperson Nancy Chartrand, in Kansas City, police officers purchase their duty firearms from a selection of authorized weapons.
If they personally cover the expenses, they are allowed to keep the firearms even after leaving the department. It remains unclear whether Golubski followed this protocol.
How was Golubski feeling?
According to Christopher Joseph, Golubski’s lead attorney, he had planned to meet Golubski in Topeka on Monday morning and accompany him to the courthouse, which is located around 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of Golubski’s residence in Edwardsville. It’s worth noting that Golubski had never missed a court appearance prior to Monday.
Joseph stated that he had regular communication with Roger, even during the weekend. He mentioned that there were no indications of any problems and that Roger’s defense team was optimistic about the possibility of an acquittal.
According to Joseph, Golubski did not have faith in receiving a fair trial due to the extensive media coverage surrounding his case.
Joseph further revealed that he recently discovered that Golubski was feeling discouraged and hopeless as a result of this media attention.
“Roger’s death should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt,” Joseph emphasized. “Rather, it should serve as a cautionary tale, highlighting the immense influence of the media in shaping and propagating a particular narrative as the ultimate truth.”
There are still individuals who are patiently awaiting the delivery of justice.
During his 35-year tenure on the force, Golubski found himself embroiled in a series of lawsuits and criminal allegations that prompted the Wyandotte County prosecutor’s office to launch a comprehensive $1.7 million investigation into the cases he had been involved in.
Golubski’s investigation into a double murder case led to the remarkable outcome of exonerating a man who had been wrongfully convicted and incarcerated for 23 long years.
The government was compelled to make amends by providing a substantial sum of $14 million as compensation to the innocent individual. Interestingly, rapper Jay-Z’s criminal justice organization has taken legal action in order to obtain the police records related to this case.
According to Pilate, the trial of Golubski would have been a mere initial step towards holding local police and government officials accountable, as only a small number of his victims were brave enough to come forward.
She expressed her disappointment, saying, “They were eagerly awaiting the moment of accountability, only to have it unexpectedly taken away from them.”
