ELSMERE, Ky. — Elsmere police's Facebook post welcoming former Boone County deputy Tyler Brockman as its newest officer received hundreds of comments from residents angry that the department hired a man who shot and killed a teenager while on duty.
"Please join the City of Elsmere in congratulating our newest Officer, Tyler Brockman! Officer Brockman was sworn in by Mayor Lenhof this morning," Elsmere police said before detailing Brockman's work, which includes time with the Boone County Sheriff's Office and Villa Hills Police Department.
While a Boone County deputy, Brockman shot and killed teenager Samantha Ramsey as she attempted to drive away from a field party in 2014.
Our previous reporting shows Brockman had said he was afraid Ramsey would run him over and worried that she might hit people walking along the road. An evidence report found Ramsey was intoxicated, had used marijuana and ran over Brockman's foot before he fatally shot her.
A grand jury declined to indict Brockman, who fired four shots point-blank through Ramsey's windshield after he jumped onto the front hood of her car. Her family did accept a $3.5 million settlement from the county that included a requirement that deputies must wear body cameras.
Brockman remained with the sheriff's office until 2019, according to Elsmere's post.
Several people commented on Elsmere's post calling Brockman a "murderer" and questioning whether there was oversight in the hiring process.
"Such a disgrace to this city. This is a slap in the face to everyone," one person said.
"Are you hearing your citizens?" another person commented.
We called Elsmere Police Chief Russell Wood, who declined to comment. When announcing the hire to city council, he stated he was proud to fully staff the department.
During that meeting, Mayor Marty Lenhof complimented Wood on his ability to hire quality candidates to the department.
"Could have filled this a long time ago, but they weren't the right fit for the city," he said. "They weren't the right fit for the chief, and I want to thank you for staying on task."
The City of Elsmere issued a statement on June 20 about Brockman's hiring:
Former Boone County Deputy Sheriff and Villa Hills Police Sergeant Tyler Brockman has been hired as a officer with the Elsmere Police Department.
Officer Brockman was fully vetted through the department’s normal hiring process, including a complete background check and a stringent review of his personnel file.
The city is aware of Officer Brockman’s involvement in 2014 incident involving the death of Samantha Ramsey, a tragic event. The incident was thoroughly investigated and a Boone County grand jury declined to issue an indictment after being presented evidence by a special prosecutor. He has continued to work in law enforcement over the past decade.
Officer Brockman is an experienced and highly-trained officer who is certified by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Criminal Justice. He is dedicated to protecting the community, serving the public and will be an asset to the Elsmere Police Department and the City of Elsmere.
The city will have no additional comment at this time.
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