Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 119. No.52	DECEMBER 29, 2010

Muldraugh Police Chief John Stinebruner remains under fire

Muldraugh Police Chief John Stinebruner said – if necessary – he’ll subpoena everyone who has a key to the police department offices to determine who allegedly stole two police department radios.

“I will do a full case review, possibly with the Kentucky State Police,” Stinebruner told council members at their Dec. 13 meeting. “Everyone who has keys to that area will be subpoenaed and we will find out where they are at.”

The incident stems from the fact two police radios weren’t returned after the officers left the department’s employment and laptops – used for in-car communcations – have not been installed in the vehicles yet.

The issues have led council members to reprimand Stinebruner, giving him 60 days to clean up the issues and turn the department around.

Two other officers were also reprimanded, but for different violations. Written copies of their reprimands were placed in their personnel files,

The officer in question – who is no longer employed by the city – allegedly left one of the radios on Stinebruner’s desk, but Stinebruner claimed he never saw it.

He told members officer Scottie Bennett allegedly saw the radios and reportedly checked them back into the department, thus he’s the one that should be responsible.

In response to a question from a council member, Stinebruner said the radios can be tracked if they’re turned on and transmitting.

“We’re going to find them, even if I have to subpoena everyone with a key,” he said.

In another matter, Stinebruner is still working on getting laptop computers installed into the cars, despite the fact Mayor Danny Tate said the issue has been underway for two years.

“You’ve got the computers and then it appeared to be dropped,” Tate said.

Stinebruner has talked to the Kentucky State Police and they appear to be the only department with the functioning system.

He also said the necessary stands are installed in the cars, but he needs a computer technician to install the laptops.

“There is only one system that’s up and working locally and that’s in Brandenburg,” Stinebruner said. “I don’t think the Meade County system is up and working either. They have had it since 2004, and I don’t think they are online but they’re in the cars.”

He agreed to call the vendor and see if the rest of the materials would arrive shortly.

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