| By Bob Weaver 2023
Federal authorities will likely do an investigation related to wrongdoing by the WV State Police, according to Gov. Jim Justice, following multiple allegations that have surfaced from a whistleblower.
The allegations first surfaced about six months ago, more recently made public by a WCHS-TV investigative reporter.
The State Police whistleblower was arrested for a domestic incident,
after which his attorney immediately alleged his client was a "target" of retaliation. Superintedent Jan Cahill said the trooper was allowed to retire.
The State Police have long denied a Civilian Review Board, which called for at least one civilian on the board to review misconduct, insisting on reviewing their own misconduct complaints, widely supported by the West Virginia Legislature.
WV State Police Superintendent Jan Cahill has resigned under pressure. The headquarters have been searched following an order from the governor and a new superintendent Jack Chambers has been appointed.
Chambers says he will clean up the agency, reminding citizens that most officers are ethical.
Justice confirmed some of the allegations, which included the misuse of federal and state dollars, using ghost accounts tapping money for secret unauthorized personal purchases, high-level staffers engaging in inappropriate behavior in state offices and vehicles, and illegal overtime practices resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars fraudulent overtime pay.
Allegations in the anonymous whisleblower letter includes extramarital encounters and fights between top-ranking State Police officials on state property, the use of fleet vehicles to facilitate trysts.
At least two women in Logan County have filed suit against a trooper, who they claimed raped them.
Justice is asking for an investigation into hidden cameras in the WVSP women's locker room in South Charleston. He said three members of the State Police found a flashdrive of the women and destroyed the evidence, allegedly several minor females were photographed during a Junior Trooper Program. Eight of the women have filed suit regarding the shower room photography.
The governor said a state policeman at a local casino allegedly took an envelope of money belonging to a customer, saying "The more we dug, the worse it got." The report says the officer, a captain, was allowed to retire with no investigation. A video has been released regarding the theft.
He also acknowledged a suspicious death of a man on I-81 following a struggle with a man who died. Gov. Justice, who viewed the video, said it was troubling.
Justice called for state residents to continue to support the State Police, indicating that most officers hold themselves to higher standards.
Twenty-three years ago, the Hur Herald and five Calhoun citizens testified before the WV Legislature regarding the need for a Civilian Review Board. Most of those citizens had filed complaints related to police brutality. Most of the complaints were disregarded.
Following years of arrests and incidents, some regarding public photography by the Hur Herald,
and the reporting of dozens of incidents regarding misconduct, those State Police behaviors in Calhoun have apparently ceased.
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