Chief McCubbin blasts ‘idiocy of rumors’ linking city officer and Rogers case
NC GAZETTE / WBRT RADIO
STAFF REPORT
CHIEF RICK MCCUBBIN
Friday, July 17, 2015, 11:48 p.m. — In response to a story published in Friday’s edition of The Kentucky Standard regarding unconfirmed rumors and allegations involving the Bardstown Police Department and the disappearance of Crystal M. Rogers, Bardstown Police Chief Rick McCubbin posted a response on social media, blasting what he called “the idiocy of rumors.”
In the letter, McCubbin denies claims that one of his officers has been suspended, fired or arrested, and that there is no cover-up or conspiracy.
“Frankly, either the (Bardstown Police Department) or the (Nelson County Sheriff’s Office) would investigate a tip involving an officer more rigorously because we hold our officers to a higher standard than any regular citizen of the community,” he wrote.
Gossip and rumors actually can impede the investigation of Rogers’ disappearance, he noted. “Legitimate information, not rumors, will help this family get the closure they need.”
As of 11:30 p.m. Friday, July 17, McCubbin’s letter on Facebook had received more than 600 “likes,” was shared more than 280 times and received nearly 70 comments.
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July 17, 2015
Open letter from Chief Rick McCubbin
Bardstown Police Department
I want to address two concerns: the recent article in the Kentucky Standard and the ever present rumor mill that thrives in our community.
While some of the things that you may be hearing are true, many are not, yet these things continue to fester, making our job to separate fact from fiction even more difficult. The missing person case of Crystal Rogers has created many of these issues. Though the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) is handling the investigation, I am aware that many of you have focused your attention on my department. As Chief it is my job to address these concerns rather than to explain, defend, or agree. I am addressing only the Bardstown Police Department (BPD) in this letter.
I have been made aware that some in our community are questioning “possible involvement” by the department in the missing person case that is being investigated by the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office. Rumors imply that one of our officers has been suspended, fired, and even arrested for his or her “involvement.” This is not true. Rumors and innuendo such as this compromise an investigation.
I can assure you that if any member of this department is mentioned from your tips, the NCSO will treat that as it would regarding any member of our community and that the NCSO will address this when the time is right, not the BPD. Frankly, either the BPD or the NCSO would investigate a tip involving an officer more rigorously because we hold our officers to a higher standard than any regular citizen of the community.
Allow me to back up for a moment. Many rumors, stories, and blatant lies are detrimental to investigations. You may not realize it, but when these rumors are spread, law enforcement must investigate every rumor and story because if we did not, we would not be doing due diligence. For example, I have been asked many times why I have not commented on the Netherland case. I have been asked why I have not said much about the murder of our own officer. I repeatedly explain those crimes did not occur in the City of Bardstown, so the Kentucky State Police, not the BPD, is responsible for those investigations, but rumors surface and the investigators are derailed to debunk them. When a crime occurs within the city limits, the Bardstown Police Department is responsible for the investigation of that crime; when a crime occurs outside the city limits but inside the county, the Nelson County Sheriff’s Department or the Kentucky State Police is responsible for the investigation.
As with the Netherland and Ellis cases, the same applies to the current missing person case: it did not occur in the city of Bardstown; therefore, BPD is not investigating. For those who have asked me, “Why do you have so many unsolved crimes in Bardstown?” my reply is, “We do not.” The City of Bardstown/BPD has only one unsolved crime: a bank robbery from December 2014. Please understand jurisdictional boundaries.
The Nelson County Sheriff’s Department is the lead investigating agency of the missing person case.
Both the Bardstown Police Department and Nelson County Sheriff’s Department, like all law enforcement agencies, are legally barred from releasing information to the public during an open investigation.
Our community problem is that many want to know too much, too soon before it can be legally released and when this is not sufficient, people create rumors and fictional stories to fill in the gaps. Please understand that community members are not privy to information during an open investigation; only after it is closed/adjudicated does an investigation become open record. Please understand that we are not going to talk about open cases to any great depth.
A friend of mine recently posted on social media that an investigation is “not open for a play by play” for the public. She is absolutely correct. Please understand that we in law enforcement owe no one explanations or information about what we are doing during the open investigative period. This is necessary to protect the rights of all involved. Again, once it is closed, you are free to examine the case through open records, but not until then.
As Chief of the Bardstown Police Department, I will not be releasing information on the current investigations of the Nelson County Sheriff’s Department. Information, tips, and involvement must be directed to the proper agency, and our community must allow that agency to make statements when it is necessary and determine what can be released.
The current case of Crystal Rogers is being investigated by the NCSO and we at the BPD have been the assisting agency. I have confirmed that one of our officers is indeed the brother of her partner. It is no secret that many in the community have focused on Crystal Rogers’ partner/boyfriend in their discussions of the missing person case. Many have assumed that because he has a brother who is an officer that there may be a “cover up” or “conspiracy” and that we are protecting both of them. Let me unequivocally state that is not true.
To those of you suggesting a cover up or conspiracy, consider this: if there were a cover up or conspiracy, you would not be aware of anything in this investigation. Think about what you are saying. It is illogical. Moreover, suggestions like that insult the tireless work of the NCSO and others working on the case.
I will further state that the NCSO is following up on ALL tips, information, ideas, and theories that YOU have brought. Investigators have been working nonstop since the day of the report, and the dedication that they have shown is beyond what I can state here in this letter. Literally no stone is being left unturned, and I mean NO stone.
I have addressed the above issues for several reasons:
The issue of the idiocy of rumors is like none I have ever experienced. I want to point out that when you do participate in the rumor mill, you do more harm than good. Think about that before you spread gossip; it actually impedes the case. The next time you wonder why a law enforcement agency is having difficulty investigating or closing a case, look in the mirror; you just may be the one who is hindering it. Legitimate information, not rumors, will help this family get the closure they need.
Understand that if any of these rumors proves accurate, it will be handled by the appropriate agency at the appropriate time.
As Chief of Police, I am respectfully asking you to allow this investigation to proceed in whatever direction it goes. Know that, depending on the outcome, if there is any issue that I as Chief must address, I will do so without hesitation. I will do what is best, right, ethical, legal, and necessary.
As I have demonstrated in the past, I do not waver when it comes to doing what is required to preserve the integrity of the Bardstown Police Department.
As the numerous signs across the community attest, the priority here is Crystal Rogers. Do not succumb, as some of you already have, to a deflection of this case. The BPD should not be the news; Crystal is the news. Your concerns should be focused upon Crystal and her family, not the BPD.
Small towns can be hotbeds of destructive gossip or networks of profound support. We should do what we truly do best: rally around one another when tragedy strikes and work together to help those in need.
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