Former Topeka officer admitted sexual impropriety, running license plates for girlfriend
A state commission recently revoked the law enforcement certification of Justin Herb, a former Topeka police officer who acknowledged sexual impropriety.
The Kansas Commission on Peace Officers' Standards and Training issued an order saying Herb violated a state law that bans law enforcement officers from acting unprofessionally by "exploiting or misusing the position as an officer to establish or attempt to establish a financial, social, sexual, romantic, physical, inmate or emotional relationship."
Herb and the KSCPOST entered Nov. 17 into a "consent agreement of revocation" through which Herb surrendered his license, according to the KSCPOST website.
Topeka's city government cooperated fully with KSCPOST on the matter, said Gretchen Spiker, the city's communications director.
"The actions of this former employee are dishonorable, and should not reflect on the hardworking and dedicated men and women of the Topeka Police Department," Spiker said. "The city of Topeka acted swiftly, and as soon as it became aware of what was happening, Justin Herb was placed on administrative leave. Herb resigned during the internal investigation."
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Former officer admits having had sex on duty
Herb was a full-time officer with the Topeka Police Department from July 6, 2015, to Oct. 29, 2021, the KSCPOST order said.
It identified the woman involved only as "L.R."
"After meeting on a law enforcement related call in 2019, (Herb) and L.R. formed a consensual social and then sexual relationship," the order said. "(Herb) engaged in sex with L.R. while on-duty sometimes leaving a recruit officer in the patrol car or at the station while doing so."
Herb revealed confidential law enforcement information to the woman during their relationship, the order added.
"According to L.R., (Herb) provided her with law enforcement 'amenities,' such as extra patrols at her properties or running license plates or people for her, when the two were having sex but would stop these activities during periods they were not," the order said. "(Herb) confirmed that L.R. received a lot of extra patrol to her property when he was in the area."
Herb doesn't dispute any of those assertions, the order said.
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Removal of certification is second this year for former Topeka officers
Herb became the second former Topeka police officer to see his law enforcement certification revoked this year.
The KSCPOST in September revoked the certification of former Topeka officer Stephen Dorsey Smith, whom it said hit a car while driving drunk in October 2021, then told Topeka police his wife had hit it.
Smith resigned during a Topeka police investigation, which continued after he left the department. That probe's findings were sent to KSCPOST, which then exercised its authority revoke the certification of officers whose actions show they aren't of good moral character sufficient to warrant public trust in them.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Certification revoked for former Topeka police officer Justin Herb
