Mayor: Houck violated police policy, interfered with Rogers investigation
Bardstown Mayor John Royalty, center, was joined by City Attorney Tim Butler, left, and Bardstown Police Chief Rick McCubbin at Friday’s press conference announcing that Officer Nick Houck’s employment was terminated.
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
NICK HOUCK
Friday, Oct. 16, 2015, 3 p.m. — Former Bardstown Police Officer Nick Houck was terminated Friday in an order released by Mayor John Royalty following a four-hour administrative hearing Thursday.
At a press conference Friday afternoon, City Attorney Tim Butler said Houck was terminated for several violations of the city’s procedural and personnel policies.
The order firing Houck states he interfered with the Crystal Rogers missing person investigation when he called his brother, Brooks Houck, Roger’s boyfriend, who was being interviewed by John Snow of the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office.
“Making a call to his brother in such circumstances is enough to be considered interference in a criminal investigation,” the order states. “In common terms, he should have known better.”
By calling his brother, Houck put the interests of his brother ahead of that of the public and of the integrity of the investigation.
During an FBI-adminstered polygraph, Houck failed to remember details of his activities as late as one week before the polygraph. This demonstrated “either a lack of candor as alleged or lack of qualification and skills required to be a police officer.”
Mayor John Royalty told the media the decision to terminate Houck was reached after full examination of evidence and testimony. He called it one of the most difficult decisions he’s faced as mayor.
Houck failed to recall his activities involving his take-home police cruiser as well. These were violations of the city’s personnel policies and ethics, the order states.
Houck also refused to cooperate with officers investigating Rogers’ disappearance, and he is alleged to have made disparaging remarks about law enforcement and the judicial system. When asked to respond to a statement by Detective Jon Snow, Houck told KSP investigators that “he (Snow) lies to juries.”
If the allegation against Snow as true, Houck should have reported the incident to his superiors or other relevant authority. “Mr. Houck’s lack of action would indicate to me such allegations lack credibility,” the mayor said in the order.
At the press conferenced, Butler said Houck had the option of exercising his right to refuse to answer investigators’ questions, which he did not. “Had he exercised that right we wouldn’t be here today,” Butler said.
Houck was represented at Thursday’s administrative hearing by Louisville attorney Irwin Roberts.
Bardstown Police Chief Rick McCubbin answers media questions at Friday’s press conference.
In the order Royalty — a former Bardstown Police Officer — said he understood that Houck was put in a difficult position of being a suspect in an investigation while trying to protect his constitutional rights. Royalty cited city policies that require officers who find themselves in such a predicament to talk with their superior officer, which Houck failed to do.
McCubbin said that he recommended the mayor terminate Houck following Thursday’s hearing.
“Its as much what he didn’t do as what he did do,” McCubbin said of Houck’s actions during the press conference. “There are certain things we don’t do as law enforcement officers.”
McCubbin said Houck’s city police cruiser remains in the custody in the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office. When asked about McCubbin’s response earlier this year to rumors Houck’s car had been taken in as evidence in the Rogers investigation, McCubbin said he said what he had to say at the time. In a statement posed on social media, McCubbin said Houck’s police cruiser “was in the shop.”
“I wasn’t under oath,” McCubbin said of his statements, adding that he could not reveal any details that might jeopardize the ongoing investigation into Rogers’ disappearance.
City Attorney Tim Butler.
McCubbin said that due to the sheriff’s office ongoing investigation, he also forced to delay taking any action against Nick Houck until investigators gave him the go-ahead.
McCubbin said that as far as he is concerned, Houck’s career in law enforcement is over. “I expect a lot out of our officers, and his was not acceptable behavior.”
Several of Rogers family members were in the audience at the press conference. Mike Ballard, Rogers’ uncle, spoke to media following the press conference.
“I think we got some of the answers we were looking for,” Ballard told the press.
Ballard said he believes the investigation is moving forward. “I don’t think we’re going to get closure until Crystal is found and the person responsible for her disappearance is brought to justice,” he said.
Ballard said he and his family had no doubt Houck interfered with the investigation. The fact that Houck’s police car is still in the hands of the sheriff’s office is proof that it was likely involved somehow in Rogers’ disappearance, he said.
Ballard asked the public’s continued vigilance in helping solve the mystery of his sister’s disappearance.
“Keep your eyes and ears open, and if there’s something you know, call the sheriff’s office,” he said.
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