Former police chief files lawsuit against university

The City of Bowling Green and Warren County have jointly declared a state of emergency as coronavirus continues to spread across the Commonwealth, although no confirmed cases have been reported in south-central Kentucky.

Rebekah Alvey

A former WKU police chief filed a lawsuit May 3 against WKU after a critical report on the WKU police department performance during his tenure and policy was released.

Robert Deane served as WKU police chief for over 16 years before being “constructively terminated,” by the university. In the lawsuit, Deane claimed he was forced into early retirement by the university after the performance report was released.

The report was ordered by Brian Kuster, vice president of student affairs, and completed by Leadership Strategies Group, Inc. Both Kuster and Leadership Strategies Group, Inc. were named in the lawsuit.

Deane said the report contained “negative and unproven allegations, including many untruths, exaggerations and inaccuracies from selected former employees.” The reported criticized policy decisions that Deane claimed he was not able to defend.

The complaint said that after the report, he was exposed to a hostile work environment and a breached contract once the report was released and was not informed or consulted in the duration of the investigation. The lawsuit explained that Deane received the report a few hours before it was sent to the media.

In the lawsuit, Deane claimed that the report has prevented him from pursuing other positions in a campus police department. Deane requested a trial by jury and compensation for pain and suffering, loss of income both past and future, punitive damages and attorney fees and costs.

University and Deane’s lawyers did not respond in time for publication.

 Reporter Rebekah Alvey can be reached at 270-745-6011 and [email protected].