High-ranking troopers or former troopers from KSP Post 4 in Elizabethtown have filed a lawsuit against Kentucky State Police and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Three troopers, Sgts. Kevin Burton and Mike Garyantes and Lt. Frank Taylor, filed the whistleblower lawsuit in Frankfort claiming a KSP sergeant stole evidence “for personal gain and to benefit his family,” according to The News-Enterprise.
The suit goes on to say that the troopers “were subject to retaliation and reprisal,” and alleges the “plaintiffs also were repeatedly threatened they would have adverse employment actions taken against them if they continued to report the thefts and inappropriate acquisitions from the evidence room and impound lot.”
Garyantes was suspended and Burton received a constructive discharge under the threat of a transfer to the Henderson post where Taylor was transferred, according to the newspaper. Garayantes still is employed at Post 4.
The suit states that between July and November of this year, three pairs of Eddie Bauer tennis shoes and other items of evidence seized in criminal investigations were taken from one of three evidence rooms at post 4.
The suit claims the three men notified KSP supervisors and Hardin County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shane Young about the “irregularities and thefts of evidence.”
The suit, according to The News Enterprise, said KSP’s actions “resulted in injuries and damages pursuant to KRS 61.101, which provides, generally, protection from reprisal and/or retaliation to public employees who disclose or report violations of the law …. known as the ‘whistleblower’ statute.”
Burton, Garyantes and Taylor are seeking lost wages, punitive damages, and a jury trial.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
