Kentucky deputy still on patrol while sheriff investigates ‘offensive’ Facebook posts
A Scott County deputy is the subject of an internal investigation after the sheriff’s office was made aware of Facebook posts he made “that crossed a line.”
Keith Gibson, a Scott County deputy since 2019 and a law enforcement officer for more than 10 years, is under review for political Facebook posts that may have violated the department’s social media policy, Sgt. Eddie Hart confirmed to the Herald-Leader Thursday. Gibson removed the posts that were reported to the department, Hart said.
The review was announced Wednesday by Sheriff Tony Hampton after other media outlets brought the posts to the department’s attention.
“As sheriff, I take these allegations very seriously and wish to thank those who brought these posts to my staff’s attention to review so that we can take quick action,” Hampton said in a statement. “My office strives to always be very transparent in both our greatest moments as well as when we fall short while serving the community both on and off duty.”
Hart said the department wouldn’t share details of the posts but noted that WTVQ posted screenshots of the posts.
Some posts featured racially and sexually sensitive material while criticizing Democratic political leaders and showing support for former President Donald Trump, according to WTVQ.
Gibson hasn’t been suspended or reassigned while the department conducts its review, Hart said.
“He is still in his present assignment as patrol deputy,” Hart said. “The allegations were not of official misconduct or other behavior that rose to (a) level to suspend him during the review.”
Hart said the agency never received a formal complaint, and screenshots of the posts were apparently shared with media outlets from an anonymous viewer who believed the pictures were “offensive” and violated the department policies.
If Gibson is found to have violated policy, he could be subjected to letters of counseling, written reprimand, suspension or termination for repeated offenses, Hart said. He could be required to go through additional training as well, Hart said.
The review should be completed in a “short period of time,” Hart said. The department will review the posts sent to them and all of Gibson’s other social media activities.
The Scott County sheriff’s office has a policy on social media use for employees.
“Employees of the Scott County Sheriff’s Office who utilize social networking sites, blogs, Twitter or other mediums of electronic communications in their off-duty time shall maintain an appropriate level of professionalism and appropriate conduct so as not to broadcast in a manner (which) is detrimental to the mission and function of this agency,” the order states.
Gibson previously served with the Boone County sheriff’s office in northern Kentucky, according to a Facebook post from the Scott County sheriff’s office. He worked in Scott County before moving to northern Kentucky too. Gibson resigned from Boone County because he desired to return to Scott County, said Lt. Phillip Ridgell of the Boone sheriff’s office. There were no similar incidents during his work for the Boone sheriff.
It’s not the first time a Central Kentucky deputy has been in hot water over a social media post in recent months. Joshua Fite, a former Jessamine County sheriff’s deputy, resigned in October after he was featured in a TikTok video that was heavily criticized as offensive to gay people.
In the video, the deputy offered another man a pair of “magic Crocs,” saying, “if you put them on, you’ll turn gay.” The Jessamine County sheriff’s office released a statement after Fite’s resignation was announced.
“The actions portrayed in the video do not reflect the values nor the code of ethics that deputies of this agency are required to uphold.”
This story was originally published February 25, 2021 at 10:22 AM.