HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A Hendersonville Police Department captain has been fired following an internal complaint alleging misuse of off-duty employment, and the State Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the matter, officials said.
Police received the complaint Jan. 13 involving Capt. Kenneth Hipps and immediately launched an internal investigation, according to the department. That investigation led to Hipps’ termination on Jan. 27.
Police Chief Blair Myhand requested the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation conduct an independent criminal investigation into the allegation and notified District Attorney Andrew Murray. The SBI investigation is ongoing.
“Allegations of misconduct will never be overlooked, and we hold ourselves accountable,” Myhand said in a statement. “We are already implementing systems to prevent this from happening in the future. The actions of Mr. Hipps do not define who we are as an agency.”
No additional information will be released while the SBI investigation continues, police said.