We, the undersigned residents and concerned members of the community, respectfully petition Mr. Harold Miller, Mayor, City Of Leitchfield to oppose the reinstatement of Sgt. Dennis Newton as a law-enforcement officer for the City.

One significant matter involves an incident during a house fire in which Sgt. Newton was accused of assaulting a resident, Lannie Fentress. Sgt. Newton subsequently stood trial on criminal charges arising from that incident and was acquitted of those criminal charges. We acknowledge and respect that verdict. However, the underlying circumstances have not necessarily ended with the criminal proceeding. A federal civil-rights lawsuit arising from the incident remains pending, and the allegations raised in that proceeding are separate from the criminal prosecution and should not be characterized as established facts unless and until determined by the court.

Other residents have also reported experiences involving what they believe to be the misuse or abuse of police authority by Sgt. Newton. These concerns raise important questions regarding judgment, professionalism, accountability, and whether reinstatement would serve the best interests of the citizens and the police department.

We recognize that allegations should be evaluated fairly and that every individual is entitled to due process. However, when multiple members of a community raise serious concerns regarding an officer’s conduct, those concerns deserve meaningful consideration before that officer is returned to a position carrying the authority and responsibility of law enforcement.

For these reasons, we respectfully ask the Mayor to:

1. Oppose the reinstatement of Sgt. Dennis Newton;

2. Review his complete employment, disciplinary, and personnel history to the extent permitted by law;

3. Review all available records concerning the house-fire incident and subsequent criminal proceedings;

4. Consider the pending federal civil-rights litigation and the allegations contained therein, while recognizing that those allegations remain allegations unless established by the court;

5. Review documented complaints and firsthand accounts from other residents concerning alleged misuse or abuse of police authority;

6. Consider whether reinstatement would promote or undermine public confidence in the City’s police department; and

7. Ensure that any decision regarding reinstatement is made transparently, objectively, and with the interests and safety of the community as the foremost consideration.

We are not asking the Mayor to disregard the criminal court’s verdict. We are asking the Mayor to exercise his responsibility to independently evaluate whether reinstatement is appropriate and in the best interests of the community.

We respectfully ask Mayor Miller to deny or oppose the reinstatement of Sgt. Dennis Newton.