Former Kansas police officer loses license after brandishing gun at graduation party
A former Holton Police Department officer has been stripped of his law enforcement certification after brandishing a firearm and holding it against his chest during a graduation party.
William Cline was employed by the department from Dec. 15, 2021 to Oct. 5, 2022, a summary order of revocation from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, also known as KS-CPOST, said.
Cline was not working in law enforcement when the incident happened. He did not want to comment when contacted by an Eagle reporter.
The summary order gave this account:
Deputies with the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an intoxicated person brandishing a firearm at a graduation party on May 19, 2023.
Guests at the party said that Cline pulled out a firearm, racked the slide and held it to his chest, making several guests uncomfortable. He was asked to leave.
Cline fled on foot after authorities arrived. He was found, interviewed and arrested by Pottawatomie County deputies.
He was charged with five counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm under the influence. Cline entered a plea agreement and was convicted of five counts of assault and one count of possession of a firearm under the influence, all misdemeanors.
Cline’s behavior had previously been investigated by the commission, according to the summary.
CPOST Executive Director Doug Schroeder did not say what that investigation involved, citing a state law regarding personnel matters.
Holton Police Chief Steven Frederick said Cline held the rank of police officer. He did not answer additional questions about Cline’s employment.
The Eagle asked why Cline still had his law enforcement certification after being previously investigated and after leaving the department. Schroeder said officer licenses have a time limit.
“An officer’s certification status stays active for 5 years after their last date of employment unless there is a certification such at this order [revocation order],” Schroeder said. “After 5 years the certification will lapse.”
Holton is a city of under 3,400 people in northeast Kansas and is just over a 2 1/2 hour drive from Wichita.
This story was originally published June 4, 2024 at 3:49 PM.