Former Kansas officer stripped of license after lying about relationship with mom of victim
A former Kansas police officer was stripped of his law enforcement certification after lying about his relationship with the mother of a victim in a case he was investigating.
Damon Athey was employed by the Independence Police Department from Feb. 9, 2016 to July 2, 2021, according to a summary order of revocation from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training.
The Eagle tried to contact Athey by phone but he did not respond.
The summary order of revocation gave this account:
Athey resigned from the police department amid an internal investigation, which started after allegations that he pursued a relationship with the mother of a victim on a case he was working on.
Investigators talked to the mother of the child, who said she met Athey when she reported the crime.
She described contact with him as first professional and later friendly and flirtatious. She added that she did not have a physical relationship with him.
Athey told investigators the relationship with the mother was professional and that he was not in a personal relationship with her, saying he only contacted her while he was on duty and in a law enforcement capacity.
His department email shows 20 of 29 messages he exchanged with the woman were while he was off duty.
The messages indicated that Athey and the woman both wanted to keep their partners from finding out about their conversations.