The story of Roger Golubski, a police officer accused of corruption and whose investigations landed at least one innocent person in prison, has been a leading story in Kansas City, Kansas, for the past few years.
The Kansas City Star published dozens of columns, editorials, news stories and in-depth articles about the FBI’s investigations into Golubski. The stars’ titles tell part of the story:
“Police in Kansas City, Kansas are cooperating in the long-running investigation of Roger Golubski“
“House of corruption: KCK police brought women to this place, says ex-neighbor“
Recently, “Former KCK cop Roger Golubski to remain under house arrest pending trial, judge rules“
whatever “overlooked” podcast, produced by NPR affiliate KCUR, provides something that even specialty newspaper reports can’t.
Hosted and reported by Peggy Lowe, the six-part series deftly balances two very different storylines. First, he investigates the homicide investigator himself, poignantly describing Golubski and the charges against him. Podcast producers are careful to keep unconvicted crimes “alleged” when writing about Golubski.
However, the sheer number of moral lapses and alleged criminal acts overwhelm listeners. The podcast describes how Golubski investigated murder victims he knew personally and intimately without revealing that connection. How he was accused of having oral sex in his office. How he presents black women at their most vulnerable moments – including when he interviews them as witnesses in murder investigations.
In addition to these investigative details, the podcast provides a second narrative that requires compassion and delicacy. Listeners hear from the victims: women who accuse Golubski of raping them, family members who are haunted by the unsolved murders of relatives, an ex-wife played by Golubski’s dishonesty.
The voices of these victims are overwhelmingly female. Yes, we heard from Lamont McIntyre, the man who was unjustly imprisoned for 23 years because of Golubski’s sloppy—if not deliberately flawed—investigation.
However, the women’s voices tell the story from episode one to six.
In addition to these investigative details, the podcast provides a second narrative that requires compassion and delicacy. Listeners hear from the victims: women who accuse Golubski of raping them, family members who are haunted by the unsolved murders of relatives, an ex-wife played by Golubski’s dishonesty.
The courage of these women, especially Nico Quinn, shines through. As “Overlooked” explains, Quinn suffered both the unsolved murder of her sister Stacey and her cousin known as Little Don. Golubski’s alleged misconduct appears to be to blame for both failed investigations.
White male police officers held power over black women in Kansas City, Kansas for generations. However, Quinn and other women bravely speak to Lowe about Golubsky and the police department that ignored him and allegedly allowed him.
“Overlooked” creates its own style in a genre that is both popular and accomplished: podcasts about botched murder investigations. KCUR’s work mixes the generational reach “White Lies” (Alabama Civil Rights Era Murder Podcast) with the personal writing (and some of the musical tone) of “Serial.”
“Ignored” also suggests a bit “She said,” the New York Times investigation into Harvey Weinstein. As titanic and towering white men, Weinstein and Golubsky seem united by decades of using sexual power over helpless victims, along with their reliance on henchmen who look the other way—if not worse.
That’s all to say that Overlooked is its own thing: a mix of in-depth reporting, vibrant writing and storytelling. So it’s no surprise that the podcast won a national investigative award this month. KCUR’s website lists the team that produced the series as Lowe, Mackenzie Martin, Suzanne Hogan, Steve Wokrod, Dan Margolis, CJ Janovi, Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
This series also shows why podcasts can be so powerful and so popular. Overlooked and other ambitious efforts combine documentary audio, investigative reporting, personal observations and harrowing interviews.
This particular series rises to the forefront of an often cluttered pile of podcasts. Dedicating years of painstaking recording alongside seasoned veteran journalists to the investigation of this sordid story.
The latest episode of “Overlooked” hints that more episodes are possible, which would be helpful to wrap up unanswered questions. Golubski’s federal trial promises more revelations and could provide not only a satisfying ending to a stellar podcast series, but also justice for a man who terrorized the black community in Kansas City, Kansas.
The upcoming episodes may also help answer the lingering question that wasn’t fully answered by these first six episodes of “Overlooked.”
What moral lapses and criminal acts by others in the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department allowed Golubski to create such a horrifically long story with so many victims’ stories to tell?
Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. Through its opinion section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own comment, here.