City confirms police officers involved in ticket scandal

By 6News Staff on February 16, 2012

LAWRENCE - City officials have confirmed several police officers were involved in their own ticket scandal over several years involving dismissing speeding tickets. The tickets were provided by someone who is now serving time in prison for the KU ticket scandal.

6News reported earlier this week that two Lawrence police department workers have been suspended after allegations of inappropriate conduct. According to a source, the allegations involve two high-ranking officers.

The FBI and U.S. Attorney found no criminal activity occurred, city officials said during a 50 minute meeting with local media outlets. The city says once they learned of the allegations in May of 2011, they contacted the U.S. Attorney's office, who launched an investigation along with the FBI. Last month they received a brief from the U.S. Attorney's office stating that no criminal activity had occurred, and they appreciated the city being forthcoming with the information.

"There was a violation of department policy that does not rise to the level of crime," says City Manager Dave Corliss.

The city said the police officers were violating the city's gratuity policy and the city is now taking steps to prevent this from happening in the future.

The city's gratuity policy is as follows:

"No member of the Police Department shall accept any gratuity from any person, whether such person is arrested or not. For the purposes of this Section, gratuity shall mean any favor gift, given in return for, or in the expectation of, action or inaction on the part of the Police Department member. (Code 1979, 13-108)"

An internal investigation is ongoing. They penalty for the officers would range from a warning to being fired. The city will not disclose at any point who the officers are.

Seven people were indicted in the multi-million dollar ticket scandal at KU, including Charlotte Blubaugh, Thomas Blubaugh, Ben Kirtland, Kassie Liebsch, Rodney Jones, Brendan Simmons and Jason Jeffries

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