Lieutenant apologizes for actions

An off-duty Shawnee County sheriff's lieutenant who was ticketed Jan. 4 following a confrontation with a Topeka police officer said he acted without thinking of the consequences, even though he believed he had been wronged.

Lt. Scott Askew on Friday submitted a letter to the Opinion Page of The Topeka Capital-Journal entitled "Accountability."

"On January 4, 2011, at approximately 9:30 p.m., I made a regrettable, bad choice," Askew wrote. "Regardless of how strong my conviction was that I had been wronged, it did not afford me the right to act without first thinking of the consequences."

Askew was issued two tickets, one for failure to obey police traffic control and another for failure to obey a lawful order, by officer Travis Jepson.

After the incident, Askew's wife, Stacey, contacted the newspaper and said Jepson had struck her husband's car with a flashlight, denting it, at the scene of a traffic accident. Stacey Askew said Jepson didn't know her husband was a lieutenant at the sheriff's office until after he was detained.

Sheriff's Lt. Jay Simecka said Askew was driving his private car through the area of S.E. 19th and Adams, where the traffic accident had occurred. Askew was stopped by police officers who were directing traffic. Heated words were exchanged between Askew and Jepson. Askew was then issued two tickets. For a brief period, he was handcuffed and put inside a squad car. No arrest was made.

Askew on Saturday declined to comment further to the newspaper, saying he wanted the letter to stand on its own. This leaves the question of whether he will pay the tickets or take the matter to Municipal Court. It also leaves unresolved the issue of whether he will seek damages from the city to have his dented car repaired.

"I allowed a minor disagreement about a traffic infraction escalate into an embarrassment for the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office, the Topeka Police Department and law enforcement in general," Askew wrote. "My ego got in the way of good judgement."

Sheriff Richard Barta said he didn't ask Askew to write the letter and it came as "a complete surprise to him."

"It pleases me that he is taking ownership for his responsibilities," Barta said. "He made the choice that night."

The sheriff's office is conducting an internal review into the incident.

The police department also is looking into the matter, Chief Ron Miller said. A complaint was filed against Jepson after the Jan. 4 incident, but Miller said he couldn't comment on it. He also said he didn't want to comment on Jepson's actions because he is waiting for resolution of the two tickets.

"The letter is well-written," Miller said. "It appears sincere, and I commend him for writing it. The Topeka Police Department and the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office will continue to work well together."

Askew, in his letter, said he apologizes to Jepson for putting him in a position of having to take corrective action on a fellow officer. Askew also apologized to his 15-year-old daughter, who was in the car at the time of the incident.

Askew said far too often law enforcements officers are afraid to say they are sorry when they make a mistake, which can lead to a lack of confidence and an erosion of public trust.

"Well, I apologize," he said.

Ann Marie Bush can be reached

at (785) 295-1207

or ann.bush@cjonline.com.