The $5 million settlement – one of the largest in Kansas’ history – is step toward holding the City of Wichita accountable for its pattern of enabling police brutality with impunity. 

WICHITA, Ka. — After five long years of litigation for the fatal and unjustified police killing of Andrew Finch, Mr. Finch’s family has reached a historic $5 million settlement with the City of Wichita on Tuesday. 

The settlement – one of the largest in Kansas history – reflects the tireless efforts of Mr. Finch’s family and members of the community to hold the Wichita Police Department accountable for the tragic shooting and broader pattern and practice of police violence within the Wichita Police Department. 

“While this settlement will not bring back our beloved Andy, it helps bring some closure as our family moves forward, especially Andy’s two young children,” said Lisa and Dominica Finch, Mr. Finch’s mother and sister, respectively.    

On December 28, 2017, Mr. Finch, a 28-year-old father of two young children, was shot to death with a sniper rifle by Wichita Police Officer Justice Rapp less than 10 seconds after Mr. Finch stepped out onto his front porch. Mr. Finch had committed no crime. He was not armed. He had not threatened the officers or anyone else. In fact, the police had only been called to his home because of a swatting prank that they failed to investigate before surrounding it. 

Mr. Finch’s killing was one of 23 police shootings in the city of Wichita over the preceding five years – none of which were meaningfully investigated or resulted in meaningful discipline for the officers involved. Officer Rapp, who unlawfully shot Mr. Finch to death, went on to be promoted to detective by the Wichita Police Department. 

“This historic result, after five years of litigation, is testament to the commitment to justice and unwavering resolve of the Finch family,” said Finch family attorney Andrew M. Stroth. “We also want to thank Mayor Brandon Whipple, City Council, attorneys for the City of Wichita, AIG Insurance and independent mediator Sylvester James for the collaborative approach to resolving this tragic case.”  

Moving forward, this historic settlement helps shake the department’s long-standing reputation as an infallible force that is above answering to its citizens.  

“This settlement is so important, not just because it provides long overdue justice for Andrew’s family but because it holds the city accountable for operating a violent and undisciplined police force,” MacArthur Justice Center Director and Attorney Alexa Van Brunt said, “We hope Andrew’s case will lead to true change, finally, in the Wichita Police Department.  

This settlement was achieved through the wide-reaching, collective effort of law firms and organizations, including the Action Injury Law Group, the MacArthur Justice Center, Kansas attorneys Rick Bailey and Ben Stelter-Embry, and Bartlit Beck.  

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The Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center is a national, nonprofit legal organization dedicated to protecting civil rights and fighting injustice in the criminal legal system through litigation at the trial, appellate, and Supreme Court levels. www.macarthurjustice.org