FORD COUNTY —Dodge City Police Department, special investigations unit detective, conducted and completed an investigation into the alleged threats received by former Mayor Joyce Warshaw, according to a media release.
The determination of the investigation findings by the DCPD, which was also reviewed by two local prosecutors, was that the messages received by Warshaw did not meet the elements required by Kansas Criminal Statutes regarding threats.
Warshaw resigned after receiving threats over supporting a mask mandate. She said she has been threatened since being quoted in a USA Today story published Dec. 11. In the article, she said she supported a mask mandate.
“As with any complaint of potential threats or harassment received, we conducted a full investigation to determine if a crime had been committed,” said Dodge City Police Chief Drew Francis. “Criminal statutes set forth requirements that must be met to establish if the words and context directed towards another constitutes a violation of the law. In this case, those elements were not met in the emails received by the former mayor, and further contact with the sender determined his words and actions fall under first amendment freedom of speech and the right to petition the government.”
The investigation determined that the emails were sent by an out of state resident in response to an article he had read in an expression of displeasure because the City did not adopt a mask protocol sooner.
Warshaw was informed of the findings by the investigating officer and said, “I would personally like to thank the Dodge City Police Department for their investigation into some of the emails I received. Detective Sergeant Thompson stayed in touch with me, and his findings put my mind at ease that all was well, and the messages were not as threatening as I initially felt.”
City of Dodge City Attorney Brad Ralph stated, “Abusive communications to officials are never appropriate either as threatening violence or as violent rhetoric. Elected Officials are simply trying their best to get through some very difficult situations with the best interests of constituents at the forefront.”
Ralph continued that the City is relieved to determine that the communications did not come from a Dodge City resident or even an individual within the state.
“I truly am proud of this great entity in the town I love dearly,” Warshaw said. “Thank you.”