Updated: Lexington police officer arrested, charged with abusing a child
A Lexington police officer has been arrested and charged with child abuse in Estill County.
Kentucky State Police arrested Detective Ryan Raker on Feb. 28 on a warrant issued by the Estill County Sheriff’s Office, Lexington police said in a news release. Raker is charged with second-degree criminal abuse of a child 12 or under.
Raker was being held in Three Forks Regional Jail in Lee County Tuesday.
As of Feb. 28, Lexington police said he “was relieved of sworn duties and transferred to an administrative assignment in accordance with department policy while the incident is under review.”
According to Raker’s personnel file, which was obtained by the Herald-Leader through the Kentucky Open Records Act, Raker has been placed on a level four administrative assignment, which is described as “suspended from duty with pay.”
Circumstances warranting a level four administrative assignment are, “when an officer is alleged to have committed a serious violation of department policy, a felony, a misdemeanor involving a serious act of violence or other serious situation that rises to level 4 determined by the Chief of Police, and the Chief has determined that the officer shall be relieved of sworn status and suspended from duty with pay until the conclusion of the inquiry and investigation.”
When an officer is placed under a level four administrative assignment, they have specific restrictions:
- They’re prohibited from exercising police authority, and their arrest powers are revoked.
- They’re prohibited from carrying a concealed deadly weapon.
- They’re required to turn in any department owned vehicle.
- They’re prohibited from working in any off-duty fashion that requires the use of police authority.
- They’re prohibited from working overtime assignments.
- They’re required to turn in all department-owned equipment and credentials.
- They’re not allowed to attend in-person training without the approval of the police chief
- They’re not authorized to wear a department uniform.
- The officer’s access to its network, email and the police facility are revoked.
- The officer is expected to comply with criminal subpoenas.
Online court records indicate that Raker, 39, of Irvine, was indicted in Estill Circuit Court on Feb. 24.
Raker has worked for the Lexington Police Department since 2009, according to a database of city employees previously published by the Lexington Herald-Leader.
This story was originally published February 28, 2023 at 8:20 PM.
