"Case of misconduct:" Officer accused makes accusations of his own about Kenosha P.D.



KENOSHA -- A former police officer accused of planting evidence is making some serious accusations about the Kenosha Police Department.

Kyle Baars



Kyle Baars is on trial facing a felony misconduct charge. The former Kenosha police officer is accused of planting a bullet in the backpack of a murder suspect in April 2014.

In an affidavit signed in early September, Baars states he was 'informed by Chief John Morrissey' during his resignation that 'he would not be referring charges.' On Friday, September 11th, Morrissey denied the accusation.

"I will simply say the defense attorney's allegation or insinuation there was a deal between my office and Kyle Baars not to prosecute him is false," said Morrissey.

But Baars goes further. He claims there are multiple other accounts of officers resigning to avoid criminal prosecution. In one case, an officer resigned 'amid allegations he was stealing money from civilians' during traffic stops. Another resigned amid allegations he had sex with a witness while that witness was in custody. The third claim is that an officer was able to resign after shredding files to avoid investigating them.

John Morrissey



Morrissey says each of those incidents came before he became chief.

"I certainly can't speak for any of the cases the former chief handled, I wasn't involved in those," said Morrissey.

In Baars' case, Kenosha authorities asked Milwaukee County prosecutors to review the case and they decided to charge. Morrissey says it was the right call.

"I think his case, and as long as I've been a cop, here or wherever I worked before this, if his allegations are proven to be true, what he did, it is the worst case of misconduct I have ever personally been involved in or witnessed," said Morrissey.

Baars' statement is part of a motion filed to dismiss the charges against him, based on the alleged agreement with the chief. Baars' attorney declined to comment on Friday.

The former officer's next hearing is in November.