Jen- I forwarded you contact information to the appropriate source and the should be contacting you.

Thank you

at the very least there should be an arrest record... is there even that much public information?

This town needs an enema!

I suggest that you contact the local office of the FBI. I don't think I'd trust anyone involved with Kingston politics. The FBI is in charge of investigating criminal activity within a police department.

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this is an inappropriate post.
this is an inflammatory post.
this post is full of lies and mis-truths.
this post needs to be removed.

this is not the place to post garbage and make false accusations about a police department.

this is a place for facts.

remove this garbage!

The FBI. The longer they have their head under the tent the better off we will all be. It's NOT just the police. The question should be how far down the hole do you want them to go. This area has been fraught with people with questionable business dealings for years. They are an "ORGANIZED" bunch of dirt bags with deep pockets.

Maybe just maybe the longstanding question of how could the Mayor sold city owned property without a bid, Hum. I wonder if ignorance of the law would be a viable defense. It isn't for us peasants. Kimble should investigate this one he did a decent job with the articles on Hinchey it is a real shame the people didn't care. We are witnessing what happens when people are so caught up in their own lives to care.

I have spoken to this person and advised of possible next steps.

thanks, jen. but i would certainly be curious to hear the answers to my questions. one can accuse but it would be refreshing to hear the facts for a change.

I am unsure these allegations are completely unbaised. Are you saying that the two "victims" were walking down the street, minding their own business when KPD beat them and tazed them? I am not saying that local political corruption doesn't exist, but i think there are LOTS of holes in THIS story. I am not affiliated with the police dept in any way besides being a city resident, and i must say that they have always shown me that they are here to serve and protect. I believe they have hard jobs, and it becomes more difficult when they are so few, and the crimes in this city are so many. I am very dissapointed in DT Matthews... he was someone people of this city depended on to serve and protect, and he has lost that trust... but I'm not about to jump on the bandwagon of people calling the whole dept corrupt.

Because of the extreme nature of the allegations I think it best not to speculate. The individual making the claim has been advised and the chief has been informed of this allegation.

personally know someone who was picked up in a kpd patrol car by a uniformed officer,,almost charged w/dwi,,but,, ,,,,he had sex with the person I know in a deserted area,,,and dropped her off at her home...and by some miracle,,she wasn't charged....hmmmmmmm...

I would just like to make one thing clear. I am not making any allegations. I think in order to do that you need to name names. No names mentioned in the original post. I was just passing on information that was given to me. We all know there are corrupt goings on in this city and every city and if people can not go out on a Friday or Saturday night without being harassed when there are more serious crimes happening that's sad. I don't care what color your skin is, what race you are, whether your short or tall if your obeying the law there is no need for this.

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Hey Copper Top, this is the perfect time to make a real cop type open ended statement. If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to worry about do you. You just don't like it that the people do have the ability to question you. It's a shame your detective is a thief we all just hope he was the 1% of a decent police department. We know that your hands are tied in a lot of ways and you guys do your best. The best way to prevent it from happening again is to police you own, if you don't we will continue to do it for you.

It makes me laugh out loud when I read someone’s post about how the majority of the KPD are great cops … blah, blah, blah. Ex-Detective Matthews was the Chief of Detectives! His actions reflect upon the entire police department and the political structure of the City of Kinston. When it comes to politics, one bad apple INDEED spoils the whole bushel. His actions are an indication of what is going on in the political structure of the City of Kingston. Ex-Detective Matthews committed crimes in the open. What he was doing was known by the powers that be and was intentionally overlooked. Mathews’ actions and the allegations posted here in this forum, right or wrong, are symptoms of an ill community. Symptoms of a LONG STANDING illness. The Police and the Mayor’s Office allowed Kingston to decay. They allowed gangs and drugs to take over our streets. They allowed the streets to fall apart. They wasted significant resources. They allowed those in power to just do as they please. Both the Mayor and the Chief of Police should do the right thing. Take responsibility for the current state of affairs and step down from their positions. Let people who actually care about the community take over. People who will not except the status quo and, at least, make an effort to serve the community as opposed to serving themselves. If significant change in Kingston’s politics doesn’t take place the status quo is all you can expect for the future with an added benefit of deeper and deeper decay. It’s time for a revolution!

very well said Nonya Bizness

Double dipping, buy money being taken, numerous stories of money being taken from suspects and not turned in for evidence no wonder Det.Matthews was able to take 2-3 Tropical vacations in 2010.

Sex with underage high school girls -TRUE!!! (They are even getting them pregnant! Det. Vanallen way to abuse that authority)

And the police sit back and complain they get no respect!! I wonder why!!!!

This is a joke. The question is why were 1 of these subjects tazed? Because he was involved in an altercation in a bar "Rositas" with a another subject. When the fight spilled outside the Police responded, attempted to break up the fight and the person refused to stop and was tazed. As far as a second person, from what I seen, while the Police were trying to handcuff the tazed subject he attempted to intervene and was also arrested. No tazing of a second person. The whole time the Police Officer's were trying to get the tazed subject in the car he was screaming "corrupt faggots." and trying to continue wrestling around with the cops. I understand it's open season on K.P.D. but if you're going to post serious allegations at least know what happened. Thank you.

Ver nicely said Nonya, I agre 100%...

Ver nicely said Nonya, I agre 100%...

@ Really???? thank you. sounds like a few facts being reported. Fresh Air.

As to the whole Mathews bit: it was $9K. I cannot get excited about $9K.
What does alarm me is the process that says, before the piddling $9K, everything was just totally fine. After the piddling $9K, everything is bad, and likewise everything that came before.
All is but an extreme projection on the very smallest of actual information...
One might call it barbaric to say, well, he stole, cut off a hand... but it also seems barbaric to say destroy the mans entire career, take what he has, deny what he has coming to him, and cast him into eternal disrepute...
We're talking $9K folks. Not lives, limbs, poisons, abuse, drugs, wrongful incarceration, foreclosures or an industry built on willful fraud.
This looks more like a game show than justice.

Well Mr. Burke $9K might sound piddly to you but to those of us who are struggling and don't have an extra $9K it's not piddly. Wish I could find a way to bilk the system and get an extra $9K.

@bruce
To a starving man a slice of bread is no small matter. And yet the progress and advance of man does not turn on that. So shall we have turned a man out of his city because he has misused a slice of bread?
$9K is piddling in these great affairs. $9K changes no mans life, indeed, it can be wondered if even a much greater sum can.
I don't think there is a person I know or care to know for whom $9K would not be a useful sum that could be put to good use. And in these larger affairs of the world, $9K changes nothing.
What will change a mans life and his city is the steady service that he brings to it for that great portion of his life. If Mathews has contributed much, then $9K must remain a piddling amount in the balance scales. If Mathews has not contributed much, then why should government and citizen stayed silent for decades.
So, the question is on the table: how many bad people remain but for some small slip. How many great people serve without recognition. What happened to the lesson of the turtle and the hare: does slow and steady not even count?
Enough rubber necking, there is work to be done.

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@ NAME...it never ceases to amaze me...the ignorance that folks feel they must share...SAD!! Next time keep it to yourself.
@Mr. Berke, to those of us that are regular readers and contributors, your knowledge, care of community, and the sense of calm you offer is refreshing.
Our community is lucky to have you in our midst...thank you!

@ you don't speak for me...
gee! thanks!
you can be certain that is at least my intent and and like you,I appreciate the the best attempts of all to engage in civil discourse. (grin: it ain't easy :-)

Let me note that the University of Arizona is establishing an (brand new) institute for Civil Discourse:
http://nicd.arizona.edu/

Deep breath everyone ;)

Gerald, you set the example for most on these boards and issues.

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$0.09 or $9000.00 makes not one bit of difference in the eyes of the struggling tax payers when it's an official sworn to uphold the law that steals it. We hold public officials to a higher standard as we should. If Ex-Detective Matthews stole even one cent from the tax payers; then he gave up his right to a career, a pension, or any other benefits paid for by tax payers. If he’s found guilty of any crime and a harsh punishment is not dealt out, there will be little incentive for other public officials to act appropriately. By the way, double-dipping is "willful fraud". Yes the double-dipping thing is entirely a different case I know but; it's starting to look like Ex-Detective Matthews has helped himself to a WHOLE LOT MORE then "the piddling $9K". The cutting of public services and raising taxes to help keep the community viable in the economic turmoil we're in is no "game show" ... it is very, very real life!

It is ourselves we must hold to that higher standard. It is ourselves we need to look to for how our actions or inactions affect our neighborhoods and streets. And more important than finding fault is recognizing service and talent and making sure that good works do not go unnoticed.
Our police, public works, fire, water, all those services... they are not drive in windows that we zip into and out of for service: we are the stake holders, we are the owners. Meet their faces, exchange the days pleasantries.
We do not ourselves have infinite energy to pursue every infraction. We waste our energy on a fools errand when we pursue crumbs and pay no steady attention to the loaves.
That noble fish, the trout, husbands its energy, pursuing only the likely meal, the worthy meal... those that waste their energy, put out more than can be returned with success, starve and die.
The inability or lack of interest in discriminating between the sizes of things, from small to large, is nothing to be proud of: that is easily accomplished by anyone who will shut their eyes.
Sorry, this stuff may sound like pompous crap... but it's really no more than many of us feel: good will and hope and a measure of gratitude that we are still afloat.
No, officials should not steal: we are agreed on that. "keep your eye upon the donut, and not upon the hole..."
OK, time to go our for a walk.

You hit the nail on the head Berke-pompous crap!

In reference to former Det. Matthews, he stole, he cheated, he lied. The powers that be- the Mayor, the Police Chief and the School's Superintendent made it easy for him to do this. Matthews made his choices and if he pleads out or is convicted he needs jail time, he needs to pay the City back with damages. His pension can not be revoked from what I have been told, even if convicted of felony charges. Mr. Burke seems to think that $9,000 is chump change. The law differs, it is a felony charge. Still, the way I see it Sottile, Keller and Gretzinger are equally responsible for the failure to protect the public funds and the public's trust. Heard from reliable sources that the Mayor has vacationed with Matthews. Keller let him write his own over-time and gave him the only key to the safe without oversight. Greztinger gave him sole responsibilty for scheduling school security. I know no business person who would do the same with a trusted employee.

For me the question is: are all of these City leaders just blind and stupid or did Matthews have something on one or all of them or combination of the forementioned. The "Good Old Boys Club" is alive and well in Kingston for decades.

Until this investigation is complete, we don't know if other cops are involved. Hell, if weren't for the State Comptroller's audit, Matthews might have become the next Police Chief when Keller retires. For sure, he'd still be ripping off the taxpayers.

Right now the wagons are circling. Kingston may back out of URGENT, there's a City audit and a School District audit as well as the State Comptroller's continuing audit and the FBI investigation. School board members and members of the Common Council are NOW questioning the use of police as school security. The mayor wants to hire another part-time comptroller to audit budgets of all Depts. Spending our money like it grows on trees. Covering their butts and trying again to appease the voters.

Remember the sexual harrassment allegations in the DPW? Suddenly there were policies and training. That case is still pending. Should cost the City millions, not including the pay of the Corporate Counsel, who serve at the pleasure of the Mayor.

The lack of leadership, transparency and competence by this City's leaders is costing the residents of Kingston big time. Until the people are willing to look beyond party affiliation, empty promises and a spin machine in overdrive, we will continue to be governed by the "Good Old Boys' Club." That means increasing taxes, shrinking services and a police force that responds to the residents based on where they live and who they know.

With all due respect, Mr. Burke, there are many young men in jail who stole much less than than Matthews. They didn't take an oath to protect and serve. Matthews did. If convicted, he can never again work as a police officer. He knew that when he chose to commit theft and fraud.

Regarding The "Good Old Boys Club" of Kingston does anyone have an issue with Holly Carnwright handling the Matthews case? One would think that would be a conflict of interest since Carnwright and Matthews have worked closely together over the years.

sounds like a conflict of interest to me. this whole thing will be swept under the rug and things will go back to the normal state of kingston

I personally believe that DA Carnwright is capable of prosecuting this case. With the State Comptroller and the FBI involved it is unlikely that this case will be swept under the rug. Matthews and which ever other police are involved will be charged, plead out or have their day in court. There's no agency that will help Kingston with the City's leaders who have performed their jobs with utter incompetence.
If things go back to the "norml state" in Kingston it will be because people accept it and vote the "Good Old Boys Club" in again. We decide if the political machines have power. Matthews made his choice and we will make ours.
This mess is more than conflct of interest. I believe that the powers that be protected their own interests, rather than protecting the residents they swore to serve. Matthews may have reason to save his own butt and sing like a canary to cut a good deal. Time will tell.

All police should be mandated to wear audio and visual equipment nationwide.We have the technology and the money to finance in every city and town.

@not surpirsed - One thing to be aware of is that this is a small community. The overall budget is too small to try to impose a lot more bureaucratic supervision. I think the Mayor and others saw Matthews delivering busts and good press - so they loosened up on oversight of him.

In any body politic, there is an old boys club. That is essentially the club of people who know and who helped the elected officials get to where they are. There is no way to prevent that. What MUST be done is to hold officials accountabel for their actions - and especially their mistakes.

Open season on the KPD is not helpful. On the otherhand, a shake up of that department is in order. I have had a number of run-ins with the police (as a bystander reporting a crime) where I was treated extremely rudely. On the other hand, I've had a number of excellent encounters. So I don't think this department is rotten to the core - they just need a shake up.

I also think a shake up of city hall is appropriate - which will happen regardless this fall, since this mayor is not running for re-election.

@marciejones - This community is reeling over a missing $9000 - and we don't really know if it was actually misappropriated or simply not accounted for correctly (Matthews has not been convicted yet). The audio visual equipment you suggest would cost far more than that.

Is the grand scheme of things, it is a small amount of money, but misappropriation of any tax payer money should be dealth with harshly - as an example to the many instances that have occured and not been brought to light AND in order to discourage others who may be tempted from doing so.

I do hope that the URGENT team puts together some appropriate financial controls that satisfy Auerbach and can get back into operation. I think the team did a tremendous job of making convictable busts. I think they probably got too cocky and did not deal with the paperwork side (which I am sure is something they all hate).

this is what our world is becoming... .and has been for awhile..... if help cant be in the government agencies, why have them ,,,,, just lok at this clix - fix people write over and over the same issues , you may see one get resolved out of how many???? what is happening to our constitution that was written by great men...it all meant something when it was written... its not a cartoon... people wake up...

Matthews has been convicted, and a serious shake up has occurred. If you have a new issues, please open up a new issue. This one is done.