2 top Kansas troopers abruptly let go after investigations clear patrol superintendent
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced leadership changes at the Kansas Highway Patrol on Thursday morning, including two top troopers abruptly being let go after investigations cleared the agency’s leader, Superintendent Col. Herman Jones.
Maj. Scott Harrington and Maj. Josh Kellerman “are no longer employed at the agency” as part of Jones’ efforts to make the Kansas Highway Patrol as effective as possible in achieving its mission, according to a release from the governor’s office.
The two were released because “their performance and leadership was unsatisfactory and did not meet the standards set by their superiors,” Capt. Andy Dean, commander of KHP’s Public and Governmental Affairs Unit, said in an email.
Harrington, who joined the department in 2000 and was promoted to major in 2015, oversaw the patrol’s Central Communications, Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division and Fiscal, Human Resources, Information Technology and Records departments.
Kellerman, who joined the patrol in 2003 and was promoted to major in 2017, oversaw Troop A and B, along with Capitol Police and the patrol’s Fleet Operations.
“Since my appointment last year, I have prioritized building a culture and a structure within our agency that will help our troopers best serve the people of Kansas,” Jones said in the release. “I’m confident that the Kansas Highway Patrol will continue to grow stronger as an organization and improve our ability to carry out our mission.”
The leadership change was announced at the same time as summaries were released of an internal and an independent investigation into complaints of sexual harassment, misuse of aircraft and gender discrimination against Jones.
The investigations were conducted by the Department of Administration and the firm of Fisher, Patterson, Sayler & Smith.
The independent investigation, which concluded this week, found complaints of sexual harassment against Jones were unsubstantiated, the release said.
“The Kansas Highway Patrol is our state’s premiere law enforcement agency, and they have a responsibility to meet the standard that comes with this position,” Kelly said in the release. “While my confidence in the men and women who make up our force of troopers has never wavered, there is no question that there were cultural issues and a lack of accountability that go back years.
“I believed when I appointed him, that Colonel Jones was the right man for the job and my belief has been reaffirmed. He has my full support.”
The investigations focused on three primary complaints against Jones alleging sexual harassment, misuse of aircraft and gender discrimination, according to the governor’s office.
Three Kansas Highway Patrol employees raised complaints of sexual harassment in the form of unwanted or unwelcomed physical contact and verbal comments.
In general, they alleged Jones “greeted the employees by slapping their backs, shaking their hands, patting their shoulders, hugging, standing close to the employee, and sometimes making awkward comments that were not of a sexual nature,” according to the release.
The employees did not allege the contact or comments were of a sexual nature. When interviewed, Jones indicated that the didn’t know the physical nature of the greetings made employees uncomfortable. He said he would avoid such contact in the future.
“The investigation exonerates Col. Jones with respect to the complaints of sexual harassment/discrimination,” the release said.
Another complaint alleged that Jones misused a state aircraft for his family to travel on vacation.
The investigation determined that Jones has used state aircraft only twice. Once in spring 2019, when he flew to Pratt, Kansas, for a funeral of a law enforcement officer in Greensburg, Kansas. He then flew back to Wichita for a graduation ceremony, according to the release.
The second time was in July 2019 when he returned early from a vacation in Eagle, Colorado, so he could attend a Governor’s Cabinet meeting. The vacation was planned for before he was appointed superintendent and the meeting was mandatory. None of his family accompanied on the flight, according to the release.
The investigation found that both trips were appropriate use of the aircraft for state business.
The complaint regarding gender discrimination involved an employee concerning a number of unrelated administrative actions. The employee, who did not initially feel any of the actions were motivated by gender discrimination, raised the issue to human resources after another employee suggested that the action may have been the result of gender bias.
The investigation determined that was not the case and that Jones’ actions and decision were consistent with KHP policy and accountability priorities, according to the governor’s office.
The Wichita Eagle’s Michael Stavola provided some information for this story.
This story was originally published July 23, 2020 at 12:08 PM with the headline "2 top Kansas troopers abruptly let go after investigations clear patrol superintendent."
