Barry Grissom announced today that he will step down as U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas effective April 15.
“Serving the American people and the citizens of Kansas is the best job in world,” Grissom said. “It has been an honor and a privilege to work with the attorneys and staff of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Kansas.”
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch thanked Grissom for his service:
“Since taking office in 2010, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom has rendered exemplary service to the Department of Justice, the citizens of Kansas, and the American people,” Lynch said. “Throughout his tenure, Barry worked tirelessly to build new partnerships with state and local law enforcement; to strengthen relationships between police officers and the communities they serve; and to uphold the nation’s civil rights laws. From establishing an innovative working group on human trafficking to lending his sound advice as a member of the Attorney General’s Advisory Council, Barry has served with energy, with commitment, and with steadfast devotion to our highest ideals. Ultimately, Barry has helped to make his beloved state of Kansas – and the entire United States – a safer and more just place. I thank him for his outstanding contributions, and I wish him the very best in his next endeavor.”
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Beall will serve as acting U.S. Attorney.
Grissom was nominated by President Barack Obama in April 2010 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in August 2010. He served as a member of the U.S. Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, which provides advice and counsel to the U.S. Attorney General. He served on the Justice Department’s subcommittees focusing on civil rights, community issues, Native American issues, health care fraud, local government coordination and veterans’ rights.
As U.S. Attorney Grissom led an office of approximately 50 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 50 support staff working in three offices located in Wichita, Topeka and Kansas City, Kan.
During his tenure, Grissom made civil rights enforcement and community outreach top priorities. Among other accomplishments, Grissom:
• Founded the Kansas Civil Rights Symposium, bringing law enforcement officers and civil rights advocates together from across Kansas together annually for a day-long conference.
• Promoted efforts to build better relationships between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.
• Founded the District’s first Human Trafficking Working Group. The group’s mission was to coordinate the work of local, state and federal law enforcement, as well as nonprofit agencies and victim service providers, to fight human trafficking.
• Established the District’s first criminal prosecutor position assigned to carry out the Justice Department’s Smart on Crime Initiative. Objectives included reducing penalties for low-level, non-violent drug offenders, as well as pursuing new and innovative ways to promote public safety.
• Directed the District’s Project Safe Neighborhood program, targeting for federal prosecution felons who unlawfully possessed firearms.
• Oversaw the District’s Project Safe Childhood program, targeting child sex offenders for long federal prison sentences.
Major cases during Grissom’s tenure included a federal racketeering case targeting gang members in Dodge City, the conviction and 20-year sentencing of a man who attempted to explode a bomb at an airport in Wichita, the prosecution and conviction of business owners who knowingly employed undocumented workers, and the prosecution of physicians and other health care providers who diverted prescription medications.