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Video: Cleared Mo. Cop Returns to Duty

May 10, 2012 |

A Missouri police officer is returning to duty three years after she was accused of assaulting a senior citizen and put on unpaid leave.

Oakview (Mo.) Police Officer Kimberly Whyley said she was "overcome with emotion that a traumatic event was finally coming to end for my family and I." A jury deliberated for 30 minutes on Tuesday before acquitting her of assault, reports KCTV.

The acquittal stems from a traffic stop in March of 2009, when Whyley pulled over 88-year-old Phil Forte for not having his headlights on. Several moments later, Forte's car slams into Whyley's police cruiser.

The officer ordered him out of the car and a struggle ensued. A passerby helped her subdue Forte, who was then taken into custody. Prosecutors later charged Whyley with assault for dragging Forte.

Tags: Officers Exonerated, Oakview (Mo.) PD

Comments (6)

Displaying 1 - 6 of 6
Rj @ 5/10/2012 5:51 PM That must not be a good police dept because they do not back their officers. 3 years of unpaid leave while a simple assault trial is ongoing? Guess they will be paying her back all that money she last over the 3 years. As a police officer myself, I would not return to full duty with a dept that did that to me, especially after I sued them for ruining my career. Hope everything works out for that officer, and that she hires a good attourney.
Morning Eagle @ 5/11/2012 1:18 AM She was on unpaid leave for THREE YEARS while this case was …. doing what? I know things are kind of slow in Missouri but .... Seems if it only took a jury 30 minutes to acquit her it must have been quite clear-cut. So where was her department? Obviously not standing up for her. The prosecutor should have to pay all her three years back pay out of his or her own pocket and I would not blame Officer Whyley if she went elsewhere if she wants to continue her career in law enforcement.
Ima Leprechaun @ 5/11/2012 5:31 AM I agree with the other commentors regarding her department. If it were me I'd take the back pay and find a department that won't stab me in the back while I'm on patrol. I hope she has FOP legal protection because they will rip that city from end to end. They would have to rename the town Whyleyville after a good lawsuit.
knowsdatruth @ 5/16/2012 9:14 PM Hold your horses....... Her dept. cleared her of ANY criminal or policy violations.......... They backed her 100 PERCENT...... The State patrol with the county prosecutor chose to ignore that and ran their own investigation with their own "arm chair quarter-backing" of the incident. Her dept. was and has been their for her.........
Officer Whyley @ 5/20/2012 11:19 AM To my fellow sisters and brothers, thank you so very much for your support. If any of you knows of a great police department willing to hire a dedicated, passionate, educated police officer who actually enjoys all challenges of public service please advise. I would love to serve in Florida or a state with a Police Officer Bill of Rights. Again, thank you to all for your concern and support. Officer Whyley
Brian @ 5/23/2012 2:17 PM In defense of this officer, for all of the negative things I normally have to say about the current state of law enforcement, I feel she should be reinstated with full back pay. This is ridiculous.

Displaying 1 - 6 of 6

Rj @ 5/10/2012 5:51 PM

That must not be a good police dept because they do not back their officers. 3 years of unpaid leave while a simple assault trial is ongoing? Guess they will be paying her back all that money she last over the 3 years. As a police officer myself, I would not return to full duty with a dept that did that to me, especially after I sued them for ruining my career. Hope everything works out for that officer, and that she hires a good attourney.

Morning Eagle @ 5/11/2012 1:18 AM

She was on unpaid leave for THREE YEARS while this case was …. doing what? I know things are kind of slow in Missouri but .... Seems if it only took a jury 30 minutes to acquit her it must have been quite clear-cut. So where was her department? Obviously not standing up for her. The prosecutor should have to pay all her three years back pay out of his or her own pocket and I would not blame Officer Whyley if she went elsewhere if she wants to continue her career in law enforcement.

Ima Leprechaun @ 5/11/2012 5:31 AM

I agree with the other commentors regarding her department. If it were me I'd take the back pay and find a department that won't stab me in the back while I'm on patrol. I hope she has FOP legal protection because they will rip that city from end to end. They would have to rename the town Whyleyville after a good lawsuit.

knowsdatruth @ 5/16/2012 9:14 PM

Hold your horses....... Her dept. cleared her of ANY criminal or policy violations.......... They backed her 100 PERCENT...... The State patrol with the county prosecutor chose to ignore that and ran their own investigation with their own "arm chair quarter-backing" of the incident. Her dept. was and has been their for her.........

Officer Whyley @ 5/20/2012 11:19 AM

To my fellow sisters and brothers, thank you so very much for your support. If any of you knows of a great police department willing to hire a dedicated, passionate, educated police officer who actually enjoys all challenges of public service please advise. I would love to serve in Florida or a state with a Police Officer Bill of Rights. Again, thank you to all for your concern and support. Officer Whyley

Brian @ 5/23/2012 2:17 PM

In defense of this officer, for all of the negative things I normally have to say about the current state of law enforcement, I feel she should be reinstated with full back pay. This is ridiculous.

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