Read the Pulitzer Prize-winning work of new Sacramento Bee columnist Melinda Henneberger
Columnist Melinda Henneberger won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary on Monday — her first day with The Sacramento Bee — for her dogged opinion reporting and columns published by The Kansas City Star, centered on a retired police detective accused of being a sexual predator.
Henneberger earned the award for seven opinion and commentary pieces she penned in 2021 about Roger Golubski, who retired from the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department in 2010.
Golubski is now the subject of a federal grand jury investigation into allegations that he used his badge to exploit and rape vulnerable Black women for years.
Hennberger won the top journalism honor for seven opinion and commentary pieces she penned in 2021.
Here are those seven stories, by chronological date of publication.
▪ “Why is Roger Golubski, an accused rapist and former KCK cop, still walking around free?,” published Jan. 3, 2021.
▪ “Murdered KCK prostitutes all connected to one man: police detective Roger Golubski,” published March 31, 2021.
▪ “Air Force vet has PTSD not from her service, but from attempted rape by ex-KCK cop,” published April 25, 2021.
▪ “Why KCKPD won’t investigate: ‘She was a streetwalker. What else do you want us to do?,” published June 3, 2021.
▪ “Roger Golubski wasn’t the only alleged rapist in KCKPD, but DA ‘declined to prosecute,’” published June 27, 2021.
▪ “She’s not the first to accuse this former KCK cop. But she had a rape kit done the next day,” published Oct. 24, 2021.
▪ “Former KCK cop: Friend told him years ago Golubski raped her. ‘I believe her 100%,’” published Dec. 21, 2021.
The Star and The Bee are owned by The McClatchy Co., based in Sacramento.
This story was originally published May 9, 2022 at 12:59 PM.
