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| NEWS > 06 September 2007 |
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Police finance director suspen
The director of finances at Devon and Cornwall Police has been suspended and is facing allegations of gross misconduct for his role in the 2005 staff pay row.
The force yesterday confirmed that Colin Papworth, interim director of finance and resources, had been suspended from his post pending the outcome of the internal inquiry.
It is the first meaningful action to be taken following the damaging staff evaluation project which threatened to cut the salaries of a third of civilian staff. A wave of protest forced senior officers to back down.
Mr Papworth's suspension follows an inqui... Read more
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Richmond Register - Richmond,K
06 September 2007
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RPD and BPD: Two officers indi
One former Berea police officer and one current Richmond officer were indicted Thursday by a Madison grand jury on misdemeanor charges stemming from a July 4th vehicle pursuit.
Both former Berea lieutenant Billy Beavers and current Richmond Senior Patrolman Stephen Parker are charged with one count each of fourth-degree assault as well as one count each of first-degree official misconduct.
The indictment indicates that Beavers kicked the alleged victim, James Hunt, 40, of Lexington, and caused physical injury “under circumstances which constituted excessive use of force,” violating BPD policy and procedures. Hunt was a passenger in the vehicle of James Barker, who allegedly was driving drunk, police said following the incident.
Beavers was fired in early August as a result of an internal investigation by the department following the pursuit. Parker has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal case, said RPD Sgt. Willard Reardon, public affairs officer for the department.
During the pursuit, a police cruiser camera video-recorded Parker making a vulgar comment about what he was going to do to the occupants of the vehicle, the indictment states.
“Upon termination of the pursuit, Hunt, who had raised his arms, was approached by (Parker) and jerked from the automobile, thrown on the ground and then struck by (Parker), said actions constituting a violation of the Use of Force policy adopted by the Richmond Police Department,” the indictment states.
The indictments were returned as direct submissions following testimony from Hunt, RPD Chief Larry Brock and RPD Patrolman Josh Petry, who also was involved in the pursuit. BPD Chief Dwayne Brumley and BPD Patrolman Jake Reed also testified.
Because the charges are misdemeanors, Madison Commonwealth’s Attorney David Smith said the cases would be sent to Madison District Court for adjudication.
According to Kentucky statute, a person is guilty of first-degree official misconduct if in his duties as a public servant, he, with intent to injure another person, knowingly commits an unauthorized exercise of his official functions, refrains from performing a duty imposed upon him by law or office or violates any statute relating to his office.
An indictment is a formal accusation of a crime and does not establish guilt.
The night of the pursuit, Richmond police received a complaint about a possible drunk driver on the Robert R. Martin Bypass, said RPD Maj. Eddie Goode at the time of the incident. About 15 minutes later, RPD Patrolman Josh Petry located the 1991 blue Buick Skylar on US 421, just past the Blue Grass Army Depot. After attempting to stop the vehicle for nearly five minutes, Barker allegedly began to flee.
“He finally turned in at Kingston Market,” Goode said. “When they got up to the vehicle, he sped away.”
Petry and his field training officer — Parker — got back in the car and began pursuing Barker on KY 499. Eventually, Barker reportedly pulled over again at KY 499 and US 25. When officers approached the car a second time, Barker allegedly sped away again and made a left onto US 25, heading toward Berea.
“Berea police got into the pursuit to help and the vehicle turned down a dead-end street,” Goode said.
Nearly a half hour after Petry attempted to make the traffic stop, Barker pulled into a driveway on Jackson Street when he had nowhere else to go, Goode said. Initially, Barker was charged with fleeing and evading police, two counts of wanton endangerment, speeding, reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol. Hunt was charged with alcohol intoxication.
About 6 a.m. the following day, police received information that the Skylar Barker was driving allegedly was reported stolen to Lexington police. Both men then additionally were charged with receiving a stolen automobile. That criminal case still is pending.
After hearing news of the indictment, Brumley said he could not comment directly about the indictment. When Beavers was fired, Brumley said the termination was the result of information the department received that the officer may have “acted inappropriately.” Hunt did not file a formal complaint following the incident, he said.
Richmond police echoed Brumley’s statement that they could not comment about the case because of personnel policies. The internal investigation under way will be suspended until the criminal case is adjudicated, Brock said.
“I think (Parker) should enjoy the right any other citizen enjoys,” Brock said. “He should be considered innocent until proven guilty and not prejudged based on what is reported perhaps in the newspaper or what’s contained in an indictment.”
Neither Brumley nor Richmond City Manager David Evans remembered either department having criminal charges filed against an officer in recent history. The penalty upon conviction for a class A misdemeanor, of which both charges are classified, is up to one year in jail and a possible fine.
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