Marion County Police Chief Gideon Cody has been suspended after orchestrating a surprise raid on the Marion County Record according to a report.

Kansas Police Chief Who Authorized Marion County Record Raid, Suspended| Photo: CNN

The raid took place at the offices of the Marion County Record, a family-owned newspaper in Kansas.

The police officers also searched the home of the owner of Marion County Record and his elderly mother, seizing personal items like an Alexa device and taking photos of financial documents.

The Marion County Record raid caused significant distress to the owner’s mother, who passed away the following day. The Marion County Record published its own account of the raid, which sparked outrage nationwide.

The editorial boards of major Kansas newspapers condemned the raid on the Marion County Record, stating that no government agency has the right to take such actions.

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Despite the ordeal, the Marion County Record received an outpouring of support, with people from all over the country subscribing to the newspaper.

According to AP News, the raid took place on August 11, involving searches of the offices of  Marion County Record and the homes of its publisher and a City Council member.

The raid sparked criticism and a debate over press protections under the First Amendment. Cody’s suspension is a reversal for the mayor, who previously said he would wait for the results of a state police investigation.

The publisher of Marion County Record has filed a federal lawsuit against the police chief over the raid, AP News added.

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