Troy police under investigation for radio conversation

By Canda Harbaugh, The Western News

The future of the Troy Police Department appears shaky after one of its officers and chief unintentionally broadcast a conversation Thursday morning on a frequency accessible to the public.

“There was some disparaging comments made about some officers and others that are no longer with us,” chief Mitch Walters said.

Walters and officer Kit Pearson allegedly used foul language and celebrated the fact that a Troy deputy was fired late last spring and a Troy resident recently passed away. The conversation also pointed to soon being rid of Bob McLeod, the only other TPD officer.

The state Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation is looking into the incident, according to mayor Jim Hammons. Meanwhile, Walters is on administrative leave and Pearson is the only officer working.


The investigation will determine if the alleged incident involves criminal activity.

“That’s all part of the investigation,” said Kevin O’Brien, spokesman for the state Department of Justice. “Those are all things that would be flushed out in the investigation.”

Rumors of the radio conversation spread like wildfire Thursday and Friday, appalling Troy residents.

Pearson, who has been on the force for almost four years, declined to comment over the phone Friday about the incident because of orders he received from Hammons.

Det. Capt. Roby Bowe of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that the city would not suffer from lack of law enforcement if TPD was short on officers.

“They’ll still get the same coverage,” he said.

Walters, who has been on the force for 14 years, said Friday morning that he is “in the process of retiring.”

He maintains that he is a “whistleblower” into alleged misconduct by McLeod relating to the deployment of a Taser two years ago and that much of the hoopla surrounding Thursday’s broadcast is political.

“This is a battle of good versus evil. I have discovered evidence of a civil rights violation and the county attorney as well as other city officials have covered up,” Walters said. “I’m being labeled as a problem because I’m not letting this thing die.”

Walters said he would use his retirement to prepare to run for sheriff in 2010.

“I think some of it's politically motivated because I’m becoming a real threat,” he said.

Source
http://thewesternnews.com/articles/2009/11/25/news/doc4b07128b5fb7d424897456.txt

mitch