Lincoln police chief under investigation

FAYETTEVILLE — Lincoln Police Chief Brian Key has been placed on administrative leave, and Prosecutor Matt Durrett asked the Arkansas State Police to do an investigation.

Lincoln Mayor Rob Hulse announced in a Facebook post Wednesday that Key was placed on administrative leave “pending an internal investigation.” Hulse said no details will be released or comments made.

“As far as I know, the investigation is still pending,” Hulse said Thursday. “Until the investigation is complete, I won’t have any statements.”

Durrett also declined to discuss details.

“I cannot comment on specifics,” he said. A request was made to the Arkansas State Police by his office, he confirmed.

Bill Sadler, spokesman for the State Police, said the investigation was opened last month at the request of the prosecutor and referred any other questions to the prosecutor’s office.

Key didn’t immediately respond to voice mail messages Thursday. He was named police chief in August, replacing Russell Morphis, who remained with the department as assistant chief. Key has been with Lincoln police since Jan. 2, 2004. He has served as school resource officer and was promoted to assistant chief in July 2017. Prior to Lincoln, Key worked for about a year in dispatch for Washington County.

Morphis said he will be handling the day-to-day operation of the Police Department while Key is on leave. Morphis said the Police Department has five officers, including himself and Key.

The city has a 0.75 percent sales tax proposal on the Nov. 6 ballot to hire two more police officers.

Hulse said he hopes the uncertainty surrounding the Police Department won’t adversely affect the vote on the sales tax measure.“We’ve identified the need for additional officers and explained it to our residents. I feel the citizens of Lincoln will come out and support us,” he said.

Key