by Dennis Sharkey
Landmark reporter
As the investigation continues into the theft of prescription drugs from the Weston police evidence locker, Mayor Greg Hoffman is keeping quiet about the incident.
Hoffman did, however, address Monday night why he waited nearly a month after the arrest of former Weston police officer Kyle Zumbrunn to request an investigation from the Platte County Sheriff's Department.
Hoffman told The Landmark that the Weston Board of Aldermen only meets once a month and that he did not want to move forward without the consent of the entire board.
Zumbrunn was arrested Sept. 22 by the Kansas Bureau of Investigations and the Atchison Kan. Police for selling prescription drugs Morphine and Oxycodone. Hoffman made a formal request for an investigation on Oct. 20.
The arrest of Zumbrunn led authorities to the evidence locker of the police department. It was discovered last month after police reports were leaked to the media that Weston attorney Quint Shafer and Police Sgt. Kip McGrath were investigating Weston Police Chief Terry Blanton for stealing prescription drugs from the locker.
In a report filed by Blanton, he alleges that Shafer informed him that he was not notified about the investigation into missing drugs because he was a suspect.
Shafer last week declined to comment about the case until the sheriff's department's investigation is complete.
Hoffman also declined to comment Monday as to when he became aware that Blanton was a suspect. He also declined to comment as to whether or not he will push for any criminal charges against anyone involved in wrongdoing.
According to the minutes of a closed session meeting in October, aldermen voted unanimously to request the investigation and that Shafer would be the city's liaison between the city and the sheriff's department. Furthermore, it says that board members would seek state prosecution of Zumbrunn. The board also voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Zumbrunn.
In another matter, in closed session Monday night. the board hired Donavan Wilkinson as a full time police officer and Cory McDonald as a part-time police officer.
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