Ky. police suspended over MySpace.com Web pages

Associated Press
Thursday, March 30, 2006 6:00 AM

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Two police officers were suspended and four others face disciplinary action after posting comments and photos on MySpace.com.
The comments included discussions about police work, including the recent arrest of country music singer John Michael Montgomery on DUI charges, and derogatory language about gays and the handicapped.

Police officers Joshua Cromer and Gene Hayes were "relieved of sworn duty with pay" pending the outcome of an investigation into Cromer's Web pages on MySpace.com, Lexington police said yesterday in a written statement.

Cromer was charged administratively with unbecoming conduct. Hayes faces an administrative charge of unbecoming conduct and intervention.

Three other officers face an administrative charge of unbecoming conduct. A fourth officer faces charges of public appearance and statements violations.

Several of the officers published comments on Cromer's MySpace.com Web pages. In some of the comments, officers wrote that they work for the "snobby people of Lexington" or the "Lexington Fayette Urban Communist Government." Many of the pages featured Lexington police badges or photos of the officers in uniform.

Montgomery was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in February. On Cromer's Web pages, officers discussed the case and congratulated Cromer on such a high-profile arrest. His Web pages also included an altered photograph -- posted by Haynes -- of Montgomery and a fan, in which Cromer's face had been placed on the body of the fan.

The police statement said the investigation is ongoing.