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Former Wichita cop ducked out early at Jump Start side job, loses certification

A former Wichita police officer has lost his law-enforcement certification after pleading guilty to claiming pay for time he didn’t work at this Jump Start gas station at 730 N. Broadway.
A former Wichita police officer has lost his law-enforcement certification after pleading guilty to claiming pay for time he didn’t work at this Jump Start gas station at 730 N. Broadway. The Wichita Eagle

A former Wichita Police Department officer was stripped of his law enforcement certification for stealing time from his off-duty, part-time job at a Wichita gas station, state records show.

Darius Ousley worked for the WPD from Feb. 21, 2023 to April 30, 2024, according to a summary order of revocation from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training. During that time, Ousley said, he also worked part-time as security for the Jump Start station at the corner of Broadway and Murdock.

The commission revoked Ousley’s certification after he pleaded guilty to charges that he had claimed and taken pay for hours he didn’t work at the gas station and convenience store.

Ousley said in a phone call that he’s moved to North Dakota and didn’t attempt to fight the revocation. He refutes some things in the summary and said he didn’t really get the chance to explain his side of things.

He added that he had a lot going on his life. His daughter had just been born and his wife was dealing with postpartum health issues.

“I didn’t really have the fight in me, because it put me in a hole,” Ousley said.

The summary order gave this account:

On April 24, 2023, Ousley was working at his off-duty, part-time job at a convenience store in downtown Wichita. He clocked in at 12:24 a.m., and then told a clerk that he was going to leave, but stay on the clock.

He later called the Jump Start and asked the clerk to clock him out when she left at 6:00 a.m., and gave her his employee number.

Wichita police investigated the April 24 incident. Jump Start employees told investigators that Ousley frequently left early and asked others to clock him out.

Ousley was charged with one count of attempted theft by deception, a misdemeanor, on July 7, 2023. He pleaded guilty on Sept. 6, 2024 and paid a $253 fee, court records show.

Eduardo Castillo
The Wichita Eagle
Eduardo covers crime and breaking news for The Wichita Eagle. His previous work experience includes stints at KWCH 12 Eyewitness News, the local CBS affiliate in Wichita, and as a marketing manager for a local real estate team. In addition to writing, Eduardo also enjoys still photography and cinematography. News tips? email at Edcastillo@wichitaeagle.com or call 316-268-6213.
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