Lexington police officer suspended after tussle with Waffle House security guard
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The council approved a three-month unpaid suspension on June 18.
- Croney had not activated his body-worn camera during the Waffle House incident.
- Personnel records show multiple prior disciplinary actions, including suspensions in 2023.
A Lexington police officer has been suspended for 90 days after he got into a verbal tiff with a Waffle House security guard.
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council approved the three-month unpaid suspension for Caleb Croney June 18.
This is the third time Croney has been disciplined, according to personnel records obtained by the Lexington Herald-Leader through an Open Records Act request. The documents were released July 10.
What happened at Waffle House
On Jan. 18, Croney was working off-duty at the Cook Out restaurant on South Broadway. Croney then went next door to the Waffle House to use the restroom. A security officer at Waffle House told Croney no one was allowed into the restaurant after it closed and advised he needed to contact a supervisor.
Croney then pushed past the security guard, used the restroom and upon exiting the bathroom began to argue with the guard, according to a summary of the incident in his disciplinary file.
Croney told security “he could go anywhere in Fayette County and they did not have the authority to prevent him from doing so. When they pointed out the location was private property, he continued to argue. He also implied police assistance may not be provided if requested, based on the actions of the business,” according to a summary of the complaint.
Croney had not activated his body-worn camera at the time of the incident, which is required.
A supervisor of Golem Security Services, which provides security to Waffle House, contacted the department to report Croney’s conduct. The Waffle House security officer was wearing a body-worn camera and provided the footage to police.
Croney, when interviewed by officers in the department’s Public Integrity Unit, said he had to use the bathroom urgently and his need to use the bathroom clouded his judgment and his actions. Croney admitted to officers his actions and attitude were unprofessional.
Croney accepted his 90-day suspension, according to disciplinary records.
Croney was not immediately available for comment.
Officer suspended after high-speed chase
This is not the first time Croney has received an unpaid suspension or failed to activate his body-worn camera, disciplinary records show.
In 2023, he received a two-week unpaid suspension for violating multiple department policies involving an unauthorized high-speed pursuit.
On May 19, 2023, Croney allegedly saw someone in a vehicle point a firearm at him. He then initiated a high-speed pursuit through residential neighborhoods, traveled the wrong way down one-way streets and disregarded traffic signals and stop signs while in pursuit, according to a summary of the incident included in Croney’s personnel file.
Croney was not wearing a seat belt and also failed to activate his body-worn camera until after the pursuit started, Public Integrity investigators found. At certain points in the pursuit, Croney appeared to be driving more than 65 miles per hour, PIU investigators determined.
In addition to the two-week suspension without pay, Croney lost his take-home vehicle privilege for two weeks after the May 2023 incident. Police officers are allowed to take home and use their patrol cars.
Unprofessional conduct and another suspension
Croney was also given a one-day unpaid suspension earlier this year for multiple instances of unprofessional conduct, according to his disciplinary file.
Croney was called to a domestic disturbance in January 2025 when an irate male was found outside the home. Croney made threats of arrest if the subject did not calm down, according to a review of body-camera footage. Croney should have taken steps to de-escalate the situation prior to approaching the man and issuing threats, Public Integrity investigators found.
In another incident in September 2025, Croney was called to CHI St. Joseph Health to remove a drunk suspect who had refused to leave the hospital.
“Croney used language that was unprofessional and allowed himself to be drawn into arguments with the suspect, who was obviously intoxicated and impaired,” according to a summary of the incident. The suspect was arrested on a public intoxication charge. The charge was eventually dismissed, according to police records.
In another incident in October 2025, a woman in a vehicle was traveling on the roundabout near Wellington Way and Clays Mill Road. According to the woman, Croney nearly struck her vehicle so she honked her horn to tell him he was in her lane. After she honked her horn, Croney pulled her over and told her she should “slow down rather than honk her horn.” Croney advised the woman she was in his blind spot.
“Croney further informed the driver she sped around him as if she had an attitude,” the summary said. The woman asked if she could leave but Croney told her not to leave yet. Croney did not issue the woman a citation or a warning. Croney did not notify dispatch he had stopped the vehicle until after the stop was completed, investigative records showed.
The woman later filed an informal complaint with police. An informal complaint is investigated by an officer’s superior officer and is not turned directly over to the department’s Public Integrity Unit, which investigates all formal complaints.
Croney received a one-day unpaid suspension on Feb. 26 for the above incidents.
When determining punishment, Lexington Police Department can use prior disciplinary actions to determine the length and severity of punishment.
