By KIRBY ROSS
Phillips County Review
PHILLIPSBURG — In the run-up to his being elected Phillips County sheriff in 2016, Charlie Radabaugh campaigned on promises of accountability, transparency, and equal enforcement of the law no matter who is involved.
With a controversy unfolding in Phillipsburg in recent weeks, Sheriff Radabaugh is now having the opportunity to put his commitment to those principles on display.
Throughout August reports have circulated in Phillips County that at least two Phillips County sheriff’s deputies have been the subject of a criminal inquiry initially led by Sheriff Radabaugh, who has now brought in agents of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
The Phillips County Review has learned from sources with knowledge of the investigation that Phillips County deputies are alleged to have entered a northwest Phillipsburg house without a warrant and without permission on multiple occasions when the resident was not home.
According to these sources, the resident noticed a door had been breached and, as a result, set up a surveillance camera, expecting to perhaps see a past romantic interest or other aquaintance in the act of entering the residence. Instead, according to these sources, the camera allegedly afterwards filmed unauthorized entries by deputies.
In addition, video of the alleged entry or entries is reported to have circulated at a recent social gathering in Phillipsburg.
In a Facebook post last Wednesday, Sheriff Radabaugh addressed an onslaught of coffee shop talk by acknowledging that he had become aware of rumors in recent weeks and assigned a deputy to investigate them.
According to Sheriff Radabaugh, that investigating deputy was then “implicated” in the allegations within an hour of being assigned to look into them.
In his Facebook post Radabaugh says that as a result, he then contacted the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and asked them to become involved.
Following the Sheriff’s Facebook post the story has gathered statewide and even national notice, with reports appearing in the Wichita Eagle, the Associated Press, U.S. News & World Report magazine, the Hutchinson Post, the Salina Post, the Hays Post, KWCH12-TV Wichita, KFDI-FM Radio Wichita, the Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier, the St. Joseph (Mo.) News-Press, and Kansas Public Radio.
Below is the complete Aug. 22 Facebook statement posted by the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office:
“We hear we’re the talk of the coffee circles again. Rumor has it, the Phillips County Sheriffs Office is being investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
“Unfortunately we must report that this rumor is partly true. A couple weeks ago, Sheriff Radabaugh and Undersheriff Stephen became aware of allegations against a former employee. They assigned a Deputy to investigate the allegation and within an hour, that Deputy was also implicated in the allegation.
“Sheriff Radabaugh then contacted KBI and requested their assistance and that they take over the investigation.
“KBI agents have been in Phillips County and have interviewed witnesses. We expect them to return soon and complete their investigation.
“As you may recall, Sheriff Radabaugh has said many times that the laws apply to everyone and will be enforced as such. Should the allegations prove to be true, appropriate personnel action will be taken and the case will be forwarded to the County Attorney for charges against the individuals.
“We will update everyone on KBI’s findings, either good or bad, when they complete their investigation. Until that time, any further statements will be issued by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.”
— Republished with permission