Ellinwood, USA - May 19, 2024

Great Bend attorney Donald Anderson, currently vying for a district judge seat, has come under scrutiny following the release of police body camera footage showing a contentious encounter with officers in May.

The video, posted by the Great Bend chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), captures Anderson's heated reaction when police entered his building after spotting an open door in the middle of the night, suspecting a burglary.

In the footage, Anderson can be seen challenging the officers, stating, “No one invited you. Don’t ever walk in my building again,” and allegedly making disparaging remarks towards one officer.

Speaking to KAKE News at his home in Ellinwood, Anderson expressed regret over his behavior, admitting, "There's nothing but embarrassment. There's nothing I can say to justify how ridiculous my behavior was. I can't even watch the video. It's just embarrassing."

The local FOP chapter condemned Anderson's actions in a statement, citing them as "unbecoming of a judicial candidate" and questioning his ability to uphold the standards of respect and impartiality required of a judge.

Despite the controversy, Anderson remains committed to his judicial candidacy, dismissing the release of the video as politically motivated. He acknowledged occasional disagreements with law enforcement due to his role as a defense attorney but emphasized his overall respect for them. Anderson disclosed that he apologized to the officer involved, attributing his conduct during the incident to being under the influence of alcohol.

"I was glad for the opportunity to apologize," Anderson stated. "I'm certainly happy that Officer Jones accepted my request to come speak with me. I apologized to him."