State investigation among 3 focusing on Little Rock police chief, attorney says

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — The Arkansas attorney general's office is among those investigating accusations of misconduct against Little Rock Police Chief Keith Humphrey, according to an attorney suing Humphrey on behalf of multiple police officers.

Little Rock attorney Chris Burks said Wednesday that the public integrity unit of the attorney general's office has been looking into accusations that Humphrey harassed employees, retaliated against employees and created a hostile work environment. Burks showed KATV emails from Rick Newton, an investigator with the attorney general's office, requesting meetings regarding lawsuits brought against Humphrey.

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge on Wednesday said she could not comment on ongoing investigations.

Burks' revealed the state investigation after Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. on Tuesday announced a third-party review of the police department. In recent lawsuits, Humphrey has also been accused of gender discrimination and violating state public records laws.

“If you are a resident of Little Rock, you may agree with me that it is long overdue,” Scott said in a news release Tuesday night. “While I won’t cite all of the systemic issues that exist within the department, here are a few: nepotism, de-escalation tactics training and cultural competency, the internal affairs process, and abuse of authority.”

A spokesperson for the mayor said on Wednesday that they could not comment on personnel matters nor pending litigation. A spokesperson for the police department said on Wednesday that they also had no comment.

Pulaski County Circuit Court records indicate that the city's Human Resources Department is also investigating Humphrey's alleged misconduct. An injunction filed Monday in one of the lawsuits against Humphrey references the investigation. According to Burks, who filed the injunction, three women have come forward claiming that Humphrey harassed them.

Burks said the mayor’s investigation is unnecessary because the two other investigations are already underway.

“We don’t need to wait for the results of a third-party investigation to take action,” Burks said.

Little Rock City Directors Lance Hines and Capi Peck said last week that they had no confidence in Humphrey. They cited the multiple lawsuits that police personnel,including two of the department's three assistant chiefs, had filed against him. They also cited a lawsuit filed against Humphrey over $30,000 in credit card debt.

Vice Mayor B.J. Wyrick said Wednesday in an email to city directors that she had no confidence in the independent investigation that Scott requested.

“Those seem to be stacked and biased,” Wyrick wrote.

She suggested that the attorney general's office review Humphrey’s conduct.

“My two cents for this issue stems from the current chief’s actions in working with the rank and file at the police department,” Wyrick told city officials. “I have heard enough to warrant his review.”