[KS] When Sheriff Elbert L."Buck" Causey was accused of hitting his wife, Barton Co. didn't follow the domestic violence policy (they can't find)

LAST YEAR BARTON COUNTY SHERIFF BUCK CAUSEY WAS ACCUSED OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST HIS WIFE. BARTON COUNTY, LIKE MOST COUNTIES, WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THE WHAT-IF OF THE ALLEGATIONS BEING MADE AGAINST THE HIGHEST LAWMAN OF THE AGENCY. THAT HAPPENED HERE IN TACOMA WASHINGTON TOO. THE POLICE CHIEF WAS THE ACCUSED, PEOPLE DID NOT DO WHAT THEY SHOULD DO, AND IT ENDED IN A VERY HIGH-PROFILE (HEART WRENCHING AND EXPENSIVE) MURDER-SUICIDE. HAVE A POLICY SPECIFICALLY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, INCLUDE WHAT TO DO IF IT'S THE CHIEF OR SHERIFF, AND FOLLOW THE POLICY!

I BELIEVE WE SHOULD LEARN FROM THE DISASTERS AND EMBARASSMENT OF OTHERS. IT BESTOWS SOME SOCIAL VALUE TO THE AGONY OF THOSE WHO WERE PUBLICLY EXPOSED OR SHAMED. IT GIVES SOME SAD BUT POWERFUL VALUE TO THE VICTIM'S PREDICAMENT.

EXCERPTS FROM NEWS CLIPS BELOW:

...IN AUDIO RECORDINGS OF 911 CALLS MADE JUNE 2 [2008], A MAN IDENTIFYING HIMSELF AS WICHITA RESIDENT ALAN HARBUTZ, LINDA CAUSEY'S BROTHER, CALLED BARTON COUNTY EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS AT 9:52 P.M., SAYING THAT BARTON COUNTY SHERIFF BUCK CAUSEY ALLEGEDLY HAD STRUCK HIS WIFE AND THREATENED HER IF SHE REPORTED IT. LINDA CAUSEY LATER CALLED THE DISPATCH CENTER AND SAID SHE HAD LEFT THE HOUSE. "I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO COME OUT HERE... HE IS SO WHACKED OUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIM... SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED TO HIM"... THERE WERE TWO 911 CALLS FROM FAMILY MEMBERS BEFORE LINDA CAUSEY'S CALL. IN THE SECOND CALL, A MAN SAID LINDA CAUSEY HAD A "BLOODY LIP." LINDA CAUSEY LATER EXPLAINED TO VAUGHAN THAT SHE WAS UNSTEADY BECAUSE OF A PREVIOUS ANKLE INJURY. WHEN SHE STOOD UP DURING THE ARGUMENT, SHE LOST HER BALANCE AND BIT HER LIP WHEN SHE FELL BACK TO THE COUCH... [BARTON COUNTY UNDERSHERIFF GARY] VAUGHAN SAID THE UNDERSHERIFF, BY LAW, CANNOT ARREST THE SHERIFF... THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION DID NOT RESULT IN INTERVIEWS WITH ALL PARTIES OR PRESERVATION OF THE CRIME SCENE OR PHOTOGRAPHS... THE SHERIFF'S POLICY DIRECTS OFFICERS TO MAKE AN ARREST IF PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTS "REGARDLESS OF THE VICTIM'S STATED DESIRE FOR PROSECUTION." IF NO ARREST IS MADE, A WRITTEN EXPLANATION IS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE POLICE REPORT... DEPUTIES "WERE UNNECESSARILY PUT IN THE UNTENABLE SITUATION OF INVESTIGATING THEIR OWN SHERIFF... IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE WAS NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THESE WRITTEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE POLICY AND PROCEDURES... THE FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE PROCEDURES HAS COMPROMISED THE ABILITY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO HAVE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO REACH A DECISION"... THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WILL NOT LIKELY FACE DISCIPLINARY MEASURES FOR THE LAPSES. THERE IS NO STATE AGENCY THAT MONITORS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTES, AND ALTHOUGH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAWS INSTRUCT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO TAKE SEVERAL ACTIONS, THERE ARE NO PENALTIES SPELLED OUT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT NON-COMPLIANCE...

THE NOW-EX SHERIFF HAS BEEN ARRESTED AGAIN - IN ARKANSAS (AGAIN WITH NO CHARGES):

CAUSEY ARRESTED AFTER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ALLEGATIONS
Great Bend Tribune
SUSAN THACKER sthacker@gbtribune.com
05/21/2009 3:44pm
[Excerpts] Former Barton County Sheriff Elbert L. "Buck" Causey Jr. turned himself in to law enforcement officials in Rogers, Ark., last week after learning there was a warrant for his arrest. Local law enforcement officers were advised Friday morning that Causey turned himself in after he learned he was wanted on suspicion of domestic abuse in Arkansas. The misdemeanor allegations of domestic violence and violating a protection from abuse order reportedly involved his girlfriend. He remains free on bond and formal charges had not been filed as of Friday... Last month, Causey filed paperwork in Barton County to divorce his wife of nearly 35 years, citing incompatibility. His wife, Linda Causey, filed a response last week, agreeing to the divorce... [Full article here]

FORMER BARTON COUNTY SHERIFF ARRESTED IN ARKANSAS
The Hutchinson News
By Darcy Gray - dgray@hutchnews.com
5/4/2009 2:11 PM
[Excerpts] A former Barton County sheriff turned himself in to authorities last week in Rogers, Ark., where he was arrested for domestic battery and violating an order of protection. Buck Causey, 61, was arrested last Thursday at the Rogers, Ark., Police Department on suspicion of domestic battery and violating an order of protection, referred to in Kansas as a protection-from-abuse order. Causey was booked Thursday into the Benton County Jail in Arkansas but did not have to pay a fine for his release... The Rogers Police Department had issued two warrants for Causey’s arrest; the battery reportedly occurred April 4, while the violation of the protection order occurred April 20, Rogers Police Corp. Angel Murphy-Pearce confirmed... She could not reveal who filed the order of protection against Causey. Causey reported both a Rogers, Ark., address and a Great Bend address, according to the arrest report, Murphy-Pearce said. No place of employment was listed. He is scheduled to make a court appearance June 2 in Rogers, Ark., District Court for arraignment... Although Buck Causey had filed a divorce petition in Reno County against his wife last June, he told The News in July 2008 the petition was “on hold.” His attorney, Dan Forker of Hutchinson, had indicated the couple were trying to work things out. Last month, Causey filed another divorce petition – this time in Barton County – requesting a divorce from his wife of nearly 35 years, citing incompatibility... Linda Causey filed a response last week, agreeing to the divorce... [Full article here]

NEWS CLIPS FROM 2008 NEWS, WITH LINKS:

DEPUTIES VISIT SHERIFF'S HOME AFTER 911 CALLS
There was no evidence of abuse taking place, according to undersheriff.
The Hutchinson News
By Jon Ruhlen - jruhlen@hutchnews.com
6/10/2008
[Excerpts] 911 calls sent sheriff's deputies to the home of the Barton County sheriff and his wife last week. Both reportedly told deputies an argument had gotten out of hand but did not escalate to violence. In audio recordings of 911 calls made June 2, a man identifying himself as Wichita resident Alan Harbutz, Linda Causey's brother, called Barton County emergency dispatchers at 9:52 p.m., saying that Barton County Sheriff Buck Causey allegedly had struck his wife and threatened her if she reported it. Linda Causey later called the dispatch center and said she had left the house. "I don't want anyone to come out here... He is so whacked out I don't know what is wrong with him... Something has happened to him." The dispatcher can be heard attempting to calm Linda Causey and instructing her to come to the dispatch center. Barton County Undersheriff Gary Vaughan investigated the matter. He said Linda Causey initially refused to provide a statement and that Buck Causey said they had been arguing, but he denied hitting his wife... There were two 911 calls from family members before Linda Causey's call. In the second call, a man said Linda Causey had a "bloody lip." Linda Causey later explained to Vaughan that she was unsteady because of a previous ankle injury. When she stood up during the argument, she lost her balance and bit her lip when she fell back to the couch, Vaughan said. Vaughan said the next morning Linda Causey provided a three-page written statement. "She said she was sorry for what she had started, that Buck hadn't done anything wrong and she was just embarrassed and hurt," Vaughan said. Buck Causey was not arrested. Vaughan said the undersheriff, by law, cannot arrest the sheriff. Also, he did not see any physical evidence of battery. "I never saw a cut or anything on her lip. There was no bruising, no discoloration, no signs the night I was there or the next morning," Vaughan said. Vaughan said that usually he would call an outside agency to investigate an incident that involves a member of the Sheriff's Department. However, Vaughan said he didn't want to call the Kansas Bureau of Investigation because Linda Causey works there. Rather than wait for investigators to come from Topeka or elsewhere, Vaughan said he decided to investigate the matter himself... The Causeys are reportedly on a cruise until Monday and could not be reached for comment... Barton County Attorney Doug Matthews refused comment... Barton County administrator Richard Boeckman said he just found out about the incident Monday and briefed county commissioners about it. However, because the sheriff is an elected official, "essentially elected officials are responsible to the voters and not to the commission"... [Full article here]

IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS
Officials should've consulted KBI sooner concerning Barton sheriff
The Hutchinson News
6/14/2008 11:00 PM
[Excerpts] Barton County Attorney Doug Matthews said Wednesday afternoon that he had contacted the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Attorney General's Office to help investigate 911 calls related to an incident at the home of Barton County Sheriff Buck Causey. But the three calls came to the dispatch center on the night of June 2, over a week earlier, about a potential domestic violence incident at the sheriff's home. The KBI wasn't contacted that night to investigate, and the matter was handled by the county undersheriff, Gary Vaughan, whose direct supervisor is Causey. Matthews either didn't learn of the incident until contacted about it by The News, or he chose to sit on the case for whatever reason... In the end, it might turn out that the 911 calls from Causey's home were the result of nothing more than a heated argument. But the Barton County Sheriff's office - like every law enforcement agency - should not investigate allegations of wrongdoing or criminal activity involving its own officers. The KBI is fully capable of performing such an investigation and is independent enough to offer an unbiased analysis of the facts. Asking an officer to investigate a complaint against his or her boss opens the door for allegations of impropriety and erodes the public's confidence in those agencies. [Full article here]

BARTON SHERIFF 'WELCOMES' INVESTIGATION
Causey hopes it will clear him of possible domestic violence allegations.
The Hutchinson News
By Jon Ruhlen - jruhlen@hutchnews.com
6/17/2008 10:46 PM
[Excerpts] Barton County Sheriff Buck Causey returned from an Alaskan cruise and publicly addressed 911 calls alleging domestic violence at his home. "I welcome the investigation that's going on now with the attorney general's office and hope that I will be exonerated soon"... Kansas domestic violence law and the domestic violence policy of the Barton County Sheriff's Department require that officers make an arrest if there is probable cause to believe domestic violence has occurred. Causey was not arrested, however, because Vaughan said he did not see any evidence of domestic violence and because Linda Causey denied that her husband had hit her. Kansas law also requires prosecuting attorneys to adopt written policies regarding the prosecution of domestic violence crimes. Barton County Attorney Doug Matthews said in an e-mail that the county attorney's office drew up a policy in 1997 and distributed it to various agencies, but staff had been unable to locate a hard copy by late Tuesday. Causey said normally officers would contact the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to handle any alleged crime involving a fellow officer. However, since Linda Causey works for the KBI office in Great Bend, Vaughan opted to handle the investigation internally... Last Wednesday, Matthews contacted the Kansas Attorney General's office to conduct an investigation into the matter... [Full article here]

CAUSEY PUBLICLY ADDRESSES 911 INCIDENT
Great Bend Tribune
Dale Hogg dhogg@gbtribune.com
06/17/2008
[Excerpts] Barton County Sheriff Buck Causey made his first public appearance since 911 calls were made... “Everybody has read the newspapers... There are a lot of rumors on the street.” Causey said it was unfortunate that, being an elected public official, his private live and public life cannot be separated. However, “I assure you that on the evening of June 2, there was no criminal activity that occurred at my residence”... Causey said his wife called her brother and he called another brother who, in turn, called 911. “He didn’t know what he was talking about... I have been married for 34 years. I have never hit my wife, I will never hit my wife. I would never hit a woman”... [Full article here]

BARTON CO. SHERIFF BEGAN DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS AFTER ALLEGED INCIDENT
However, the matter is "on hold," Causey, attorney say.
The Hutchinson News
7/7/2008 10:51 PM
[Excerpts] On June 4, just two days after 911 calls alleging domestic troubles sent law enforcement officers to the home of Barton County Sheriff Buck Causey, he signed a divorce petition against his wife, Linda Causey. The divorce suit, however, wasn't filed until June 26 in Reno County District Court, and Sheriff Causey told The News Monday that the divorce action is "on hold"... The News was unable to reach Linda Causey for comment. [Full article here]

NO CHARGES FILED IN BARTON SHERIFF CASE
But AG's office says authorities didn't follow proper procedures.
The Hutchinson News
By Jon Ruhlen - jruhlen@hutchnews.com
Published online 7/16/2008 10:43 PM
[Excerpts] Barton County Sheriff Buck Causey will not face charges in connection with a 911 call to his house in an alleged domestic dispute, although an Attorney General's investigation found problems with the investigation by sheriff's officers. "I'd just like to say at this point in time I'm very humble," Causey said. "I apologize for any emotional distress I've caused my department and the citizens of Barton County"... After the allegations became public, Barton County Attorney Doug Matthews requested an investigation into the matter by the Kansas Attorney General's office. An investigator with the office and a Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent looked into the matter. Assistant Attorney General Barry Disney summarized the findings in a letter to Matthews dated Tuesday. Disney wrote that deputies "were unnecessarily put in the untenable situation of investigating their own sheriff;" that despite state laws and internal policies directing domestic violence investigations "it is clear that there was noncompliance with these written domestic violence policy and procedures"; and that "the failure to follow these procedures has compromised the ability of the Attorney General's Office to have sufficient evidence to reach a decision"... Under Kansas domestic violence laws, police are ordered to adopt written policies on domestic violence, which include a definition of domestic violence and an order that officers "shall make an arrest when they have probable cause to believe that a crime is being committed or has been committed." The Barton County Sheriff's operational procedure policy defines domestic violence as "the infliction of physical harm, bodily injury or assault, or fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault, by one family or household member on another." For both felony and misdemeanor cases, THE SHERIFF'S POLICY DIRECTS OFFICERS TO MAKE AN ARREST IF PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTS "REGARDLESS OF THE VICTIM'S STATED DESIRE FOR PROSECUTION." IF NO ARREST IS MADE, A WRITTEN EXPLANATION IS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE POLICE REPORT. In his findings, Disney wrote that THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION DID NOT RESULT IN INTERVIEWS WITH ALL PARTIES OR PRESERVATION OF THE CRIME SCENE OR PHOTOGRAPHS; that officers failed to explain why an arrest wasn't made; failed to provide the victim with information on victims' rights; failed to refer both parties to counseling; and that both the sheriff and undersheriff made efforts to have the investigation handled internally. Causey and Vaughan both said the department would look into possible revisions to the domestic violence policy, although they took exception to some of the findings. "There was never an attempted cover-up on this investigation," Causey said... While he conceded that officers neglected to provide domestic violence resource information to Linda Causey, [Undersheriff] Vaughan took umbrage to the statement that he and Causey attempted to handle the matter internally... VAUGHAN HAS SAID THAT HE TALKED TO LINDA CAUSEY THE NEXT MORNING and she said the two had been in an argument but Buck Causey had not hit her. A mark on her lip, she said, was caused when she stood up too quickly, lost her balance on a recently injured ankle, and fell back to the couch - biting her lip in the process... THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WILL NOT LIKELY FACE DISCIPLINARY MEASURES FOR THE LAPSES. THERE IS NO STATE AGENCY THAT MONITORS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTES, AND ALTHOUGH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAWS INSTRUCT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO TAKE SEVERAL ACTIONS, THERE ARE NO PENALTIES SPELLED OUT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT NON-COMPLIANCE... [the Kansas Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Trainings] only takes into account criminal convictions when considering revoking or renewing an officer's certificate. Kansas Attorney General spokeswoman Ashley Anstaett said there is no commission that enforces disciplinary issues among law enforcement agencies. Anstaett did say that the case is still considered open if any new evidence would come to light before the five-year statute of limitations expires. Kansas law also directs prosecutors to adopt policies regarding the prosecution of domestic violence cases. Matthews has responded to an open records request by The News for the policy by saying no one can find a copy of the policy, which was adopted in 1997. Matthews has indicated that his staff is in the process of drafting a new policy... [Full article here]

NO CHARGES IN SHERIFF CASE
Great Bend Tribune
Dale Hogg dhogg@gbtribune.com
07/17/2008
[Excerpts] ...“I’m very glad there are no charges going to be filed,” [Barton County Sheriff Buck] Causey said Tuesday afternoon. “I am very humbled, remorseful and sorry for any inconvenience and emotional distress I have caused my department and the citizens of the county”... Below is the body of the Kansas Attorney General’s Office letter to Barton County Attorney Doug Matthews regarding its findings in the Buck Causey case... "AT YOUR REQUEST, THE OFFICE OF THE KANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL REVIEWED ALLEGATIONS STEMMING FROM A REPORTED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT INVOLVING SHERIFF BUCK CAUSEY ON JUNE 2, 2008, IN BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS... DEPUTIES AT THE BARTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WERE UNNECESSARILY PUT IN THE UNTENABLE SITUATION OF INVESTIGATING THEIR OWN SHERIFF... UNFORTUNATELY, WHILE PROCEDURES WERE IN PLACE, THEY WERE NOT FOLLOWED... IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE WAS NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THESE WRITTEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE POLICY AND PROCEDURES... THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION DID NOT RESULT IN INTERVIEWS OF ALL PARTIES, RECORDED STATEMENTS, PRESERVATION OF THE CRIME SCENE, OR THE OBTAINING OF PHOTOGRAPHS OR OTHER EVIDENCE... THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION FAILED TO EXPLAIN IN WRITTEN REPORTS WHY AN ARREST WAS, OR WAS NOT MADE... THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION FAILED TO PROVIDE THE REPORTED VICTIM WITH INFORMATION REGARDING VICTIMS’ RIGHTS, THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE CRIME VICTIMS’ COMPENSATION BOARD OR INFORMATION ABOUT POSSIBLE COMPENSATION BENEFITS; THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION FAILED TO REFER THE REPORTED VICTIM OR ABUSER TO PROFESSIONAL AGENCIES FOR COUNSELING; AND THE SHERIFF AND UNDERSHERIFF MADE EFFORTS TO HAVE THE INVESTIGATION HANDLED INTERNALLY RATHER THAN ADHERING TO THE REQUIREMENT IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS THAT A KANSAS STANDARD OFFENSE REPORT BE COMPLETED. IN THIS CASE, MANY PIECES OF EVIDENCE WERE SIMPLY NOT OBTAINED AS REQUIRED UNDER THE PROCEDURES ADOPTED BY THE OFFICE’S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE POLICY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE PROCEDURES HAS COMPROMISED THE ABILITY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE TO HAVE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO REACH A DECISION, BASED UPON ALL RELEVANT FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES." [Full article here]

SHERIFF INVESTIGATION
Report reinforces that outside agency should've handled probe
The Hutchinson News
7/19/2008 10:35 PM
[Excerpts] The world of law enforcement and criminal justice revolves heavily around protocol and proper procedure - and following that protocol for every alleged crime, no matter who is involved. But that is not the way it worked in Barton County. A 911 call alleging a domestic dispute at the home of Barton County Sheriff Buck Causey was investigated internally by Undersheriff Gary Vaughan, who found no evidence of violence. The investigation died there, until reports surfaced several weeks later, at which time County Attorney Doug Matthews forwarded a report to the Kansas Attorney General's office... Because of that failure, the attorney general stated, vital information was not collected - such as recorded interviews of the parties involved and photographs of the crime scene... Barton County Sheriff's office handled this investigation in a haphazard manner and by doing so, damaged the credibility and integrity of the office. Police protocol is in place for a reason: to ensure that every person, from a homeless man to the most powerful government official, is investigated in the same manner. That protocol helps ensure that the investigation is complete, accurate and fair, regardless of background or position... [Full article here]

CAUSEY'S STILL IN CHARGE UNTIL JAN. 12
Great Bend Tribune
Chuck Smith csmith@gbtribune.com
11/25/2008
[Excerpts] Sheriff Buck Causey addressed the Barton County Commission Monday morning for the first time since his Nov. 4 election defeat. Included in his comments was the admonition that until Jan. 12 - the day county officers are sworn in - he is still the elected sheriff of Barton County and the commissioners should act like it. Causey referred to an instance recently when commission members discussed a jail issue with Greg Armstrong, who was elected sheriff in the recent general election... He suggested Armstrong did not win the office, so much as Causey lost it, with the election being swayed by issues in his personal life. "He kind of won it by default," Causey said. "Mr. Armstrong took advantage of this situation and became sheriff"... [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement policy teflon brass accountability]