The Manual RedEye reports that a second version of the same Kentucky State Police training PowerPoint has surfaced containing fewer references to Adolph Hitler but multiple exhortations aimed at promoting ruthless violence.
And again, in the background, Kentucky's open records law — and the culture of secrecy that pervades the Kentucky State Police and obstructs public access — figures prominently.
In their latest article, journalists Satchel Walton and Cooper Walton observe:
"[KSP] did not respond to Manual RedEye's open records request that would have revealed when the presentation was used and created.
"RedEye requested 'All PowerPoint presentations from 2010 to the present presented at the KSP Academy titled The Warrior Mindset,' but on October 30, KSP only provided the 2013 slideshow RedEye had already published on the site. They also didn't provide any responses to other requested items, including documents that show demographic characteristics of KSP classes.
"A guide to Kentucky Open Records & Open Meetings Acts, revised by Attorney General Daniel Cameron's office in June 2020, states 'an agency shall respond to a request to inspect or receive copies of public records within ten days of receipt of the request.'
[https://ag.ky.gov/AG%20Publications/20.06.29%20Open%20Records%20Open%20…]
"Despite the law, KSP did not respond to RedEye's open records request within the required 10 calendar days. KSP acknowledged in an email on Oct. 30 that they received an open records request from RedEye reporters on Oct. 14, but did not respond until after the initial story was published on Oct. 30, six days beyond the legal timeline.
[https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/20rs/sb150.html]
"RedEye's open records request included any complaints made by any cadets that attended the training. KSP's response included no complaints.
"On Monday, RedEye sent a follow up email asking KSP to provide all relevant records, but KSP did not respond as of Tuesday evening."
The mantra "if it ain't secret, it ain't law enforcement" that seems to pervade the Kentucky State Police has resulted in the presumably forced resignation of its commissioner — the same commissioner who served in the role when at least some of the training materials were developed and in use.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/kentucky-police-c…
More dramatic changes are needed and, we trust, imminent. Regular imposition of attorney's fees and penalties by the courts in KSP's unsuccessful efforts to avoid accountability — and the resulting cost to the taxpayers — has clearly not made a dent in its toxic culture.
