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| NEWS > 14 March 2011 |
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Corruption watchdog probes 4 e
The federal anti-corruption watchdog is investigating allegations of federal agents presenting questionable evidence in court cases.
The Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity was set up in December last year to investigate corruption allegations against Australian Federal Police officers and Australian Crime Commission agents.
The first annual report of the anti-corruption watchdog reveals 18 complaints were received and of those four warranted further investigation and were referred to the Integrity Commissioner.
The allegations cast doubt over the accura... Read more
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 Article sourced from
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Louisville Courier-Journal
14 March 2011
This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.
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Ethics in Policing
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Police chief fired for campaigning on the job
Shepherdsville Police Chief Col. Doug Puckett was fired by Mayor Scott Ellis for campaigning while in uniform and allowing city space and employees to be used for political campaigns, according to the city's investigation filings.
Puckett, who had been police chief since late 2007, was fired March 7 and had been suspended with pay since Jan. 4, days after Ellis took office.
Puckett's attorney, Mark Hall, said Puckett denies the allegations. Puckett supported former Mayor Sherman Tinnell, Ellis’ opponent, but did this in his personal time, Hall said.
"And he has the First Amendment right to do that," he said.
According to the internal affairs investigation obtained by The Courier-Journal through an open-records request, the charges against Puckett include:
Driving his wife, who was wearing a campaign shirt supporting a political candidate, in his city vehicle while he was in his police uniform.
Draping his personal vehicle in placards for a political candidate and driving the vehicle while in uniform.
Inviting campaign workers into the Shepherdsville Police Department during Bullitt Blast, a local Independence Day festival, to use and consume resources paid for with government funds.
Supervising employees, while on duty, for the setup and completion of a photograph that was used in a campaign advertisement.
Through these actions, Puckett violated the city's code of ethics, displayed conduct unbecoming an officer and breached internal rules and regulations regarding political activity, the investigation said "Col. Puckett failed to set an example for the department," said the report, which Ellis signed. "Col. Puckett has a responsibility to the City of Shepherdsville and the Shepherdsville Police Department to be professional in his actions at all times."
Hall called the firing political, but not in the same way Ellis alleges.
Ellis fired Puckett because Ellis wanted someone who supported him in the election in that position, Hall said.
Hall said the fact that Ellis has fired City Clerk Maxine Jeffries and asked Fire Chief Brad Whittaker to resign, which he did, is proof that Puckett's firing was part of a larger plan to get Ellis supporters into high posts.
Jeffries was fired for "creating a hostile work environment" and failing to maintain the city's "financial obligations," according to her termination letter. Ellis has said he asked Whittaker to resign because he wanted to make the post a full-time position. Whittaker worked another firefighting job while serving as chief.
Ellis denied that Puckett was fired because he supported his opponent.
"I could care less who anybody supports," Ellis said, declining to comment further because of pending litigation.
Puckett has requested a hearing with the city's civil service commission, but as of Monday afternoon, a hearing had not been scheduled.
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