Pubdate: Sun, 23 Oct 2005
Source: Wichita Eagle (KS)
Copyright: 2005 The Wichita Eagle
Contact: http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/editorial/4664538.htm
Website: http://www.wichitaeagle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/680
Author: Associated Press

TOPEKA COUNCIL TAKES NO ACTION IN CONTENTIOUS MEETING

TOPEKA, Kan. - The Topeka City Council took no action during a 
four-hour meeting Saturday over whether to fire Police Chief Ed Klumpp.

Klumpp has announced plans to retire Dec. 16.

On Thursday, two days after Klumpp's announcement, District Attorney 
Robert Hecht issued a 125-page report that said top Topeka police 
officials, including Klumpp, knew about problems in the narcotics 
unit by 2003, yet no officers were disciplined.

Hecht's report said drug evidence was taken for personal use, 
officers gambled and drank alcohol while they were on duty, they 
falsified records about their activities and the department failed to 
properly oversee the use of money for drug buys.

On Saturday, Klumpp - who has served 33 years with the department - 
provided a detailed account of his response to the allegations.

Klumpp said that, rather than fire officers who were under suspicion, 
it was often necessary to move them to other jobs while evidence 
against them was gathered.

"I do not shy away from discipline," he said. "I am probably the 
strictest disciplinarian down there in several chiefs," he told the council.

Most council members supported Klumpp.

One who didn't support him was Deputy Mayor John Alcala, who 
questioned Klumpp about former narcotics officer Thomas Pfortmiller.

Hecht's office found that Pfortmiller stole police drug-buy money to 
support a gambling habit and falsified reports about undercover drug buys.

He pleaded no contest in Shawnee County District Court to 50 counts 
of misconduct, perjury, forgery and theft and was sentenced to 16 
months in prison.

"You're not a dishonest guy," Alcala said to Klumpp. "It goes back to 
the competence of the leadership of the division."

Klumpp said strong cases against Pfortmiller and others were being 
put together, and the contract with the police union requires the 
city to defend disciplinary action.

Councilman Brett Blackburn acknowledged the problem.

"It takes time to build these cases," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman