FAYETTEVILLE -- Lincoln Police Chief Brian Key has been placed on administrative leave, and Prosecuting Attorney Matt Durrett has asked the Arkansas State Police to conduct an investigation.
Durrett confirmed Thursday he has asked for an investigation. Lincoln Mayor Rob Hulse announced in a Facebook post Wednesday that Key was placed on administrative leave "pending an internal investigation." Hulse said no details will be released or comments made. Calls to Hulse at Lincoln City Hall and his cell phone were not immediately returned today.
Durrett also declined to discuss details.
"I cannot comment on specifics," he said. A request was made to the Arkansas State Police by his office, he confirmed.
Bill Sadler, spokesman for the State Police, said he was not aware of the request, but said any investigation would be initiated by the prosecuting attorney's office.
Key did not immediately respond to voice mail messages today. He was named police chief in August, replacing Russell Morphis, who remained with the department as assistant chief. Key has been with Lincoln police since Jan. 2, 2004. He has served as school resource officer and was promoted to assistant chief in July 2017. Prior to Lincoln, Key worked for about a year in dispatch for Washington County.
Morphis said today he will be handling the day-to-day operation of the Police Department while Key is on leave. Morphis said the Lincoln Police Department has five officers, including himself and Key. The city has a 0.75-percent sales tax proposal on the Nov. 6 ballot that would be used to hire additional police officers.
NW News on 10/26/2018