KANSAS CITY, Kan. —A social activist group is calling for Kansas City, Kansas, Police Chief Terry Zeigler to resign and for a federal investigation into the police department.

At a rally Wednesday, the group, called More2, said they were called into action after a former police department cadet filed a federal lawsuit two weeks ago. In it, the female trainee said she was fired after she complained she was sexually harassed and touched by Steven Rios, who was convicted of misdemeanor battery and retired after the complaint.

More2 said the allegations in the lawsuit are the latest example of a department that has a culture of protecting bad officers.

A few dozen protesters carried signs, beat drums and chanted for Zeigler’s resignation. They claim the department has had issues for decades, and Zeigler is contributing.

“We gather today to protest injustice and to gather for change,” said the Rev. Rick Behrens, of Grandview Park Church.

The rally focused on Lamonte McIntyre, who was exonerated after 23 years in prison for a double murder.

“We can’t fool ourselves into thinking Lamonte’s was an isolated case,” Behrens said.

Former Detective Roger Golubski was involved in McIntyre’s case. At the rally, the family of Rose Calvin claimed Golubski took advantage of her.

The family also said that Rose Calvin’s brother, John Calvin, has been in prison for 17 years for a murder in which another man confessed.

“We still have not been able to get him out,” said Rose’s brother, Eric Calvin.

Golubski is Zeigler’s former police partner, and Golubski is the focus of a lawsuit against the department that claims he often sexually assaulted women and the department covered it up. One of those women was allegedly McIntyre’s mother. The lawsuit claims his conviction was a retaliation for her changing her number and no longer talking to Golubski.

“This man nearly destroyed us, but we are strong and we are here,” Eric Calvin said.

The group wants the FBI to investigate Golubski and the Department of Justice to investigate the police department.

“If cannot trust the police to investigate or protect us, we’re not free in our community and that’s not OK,” said Naomi Tolentino, the board president of Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation said.

In October, when attorneys for McIntyre filed a federal lawsuit against Golubski, Zeigler released a video statement saying the police department never received any internal or external complaints about Golubski, which is why they never investigated. But Zeigler said the FBI’s Kansas City office has looked into the allegations.

More2 also wants an independent hotline for any victims of the police department’s officers to call.

“The chief has to go or we will never get justice,” Eric Calvin said.

The police department released a statement:

“The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department has already made statements regarding the lawsuits filed against the Department and will not be making any further comments on those issues as they will be addressed through litigation.

“The Police Department has a hotline (913-573-6373) where citizens can call to report any type of police misconduct. The Department welcomes complaints from all citizens and encourages anyone with any issue to call either the hotline or the Internal Affairs Office (913.573.6370) to report police officer misconduct. The Police Department is accredited through CALEA (The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies), which includes the processes and procedures governing how Internal Affairs operates.

“The Department will cooperate with any outside investigation as we are confident we meet or exceed currently accepted practices/standards in law enforcement regarding how we handle citizen complaints through the Internal Affairs process.

“If members of the More2 organization has information about current police misconduct by a member of the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department they are encouraged to provide the information to Internal Affairs or any other organization who has jurisdiction so it can be thoroughly investigated and the proper corrective action taken.”