By JOHN HANNA
Associated Press Writer
TOPEKA, Kan.- City narcotics officers regularly tampered with drug evidence and falsified records, yet supervisors failed to discipline anyone, a prosecutor said Thursday.
The investigative report by Shawnee County District Attorney Robert Hecht alleged that Topeka Police Chief Ed Klumpp knew about the problems and still pressed ahead with some cases. The chief announced this week he would retire in December.
“It is clear that the chain of command, including the chief of police, were aware that there were serious factual flaws in these cases and that they contained false statements and allegations,” Hecht said in the report.
Klumpp, 56, has been with the department for 35 years and chief for four. A woman in his office said he was in a meeting Thursday and unavailable for comment.
Hecht said that drugs that were being held as evidence were taken for personal use and that officers gambled and drank on duty, falsified records about their activities, and failed to properly oversee money for drug buys.
Two officers have previously been charged. Hecht’s report did not identify other officers allegedly involved in the misconduct.
Former officer Thomas Pfortmiller was sentenced last month to 16 months in prison after Hecht’s office found that he stole $20,000 meant for undercover drug buys and falsified records claiming that drug buys had occurred. His former partner, Bruce Voight, was charged with 61 felonies, including falsifying evidence.
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On the Net:
City of Topeka: http://www.topeka.org
Hecht’s office: http://www.shawneecountyda.org