Kansas Police Chief arrested for stealing beer from the fire department

**Terminator** · 08-04-07, 10:23 AM

The police chief for the city of Wilson was arrested by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation Wednesday for allegedly stealing beer from the Wilson Fire Department, according to court records.
Brian Hill, 41, Wilson, was charged in Ellsworth County District Court with one count of misdemeanor theft. He was released from the Ellsworth County Jail on $2,500 bond, and is to appear in court Aug. 14.
Hill couldn't be reached Thursday for comment. He is not related to Salina Police Chief Jim Hill.
According to information on the warrant for Hill's arrest, filed by Ellsworth County Attorney Joe Shepack, Hill is charged with taking the beer from the fire department between Monday and Tuesday. The warrant was issued Wednesday.
The warrant didn't indicate how much beer was taken, but noted that the value was less than $1,000, making the theft a misdemeanor crime.
Shepack didn't return a phone call Thursday afternoon seeking comment.
Larry Langerman, chief of Wilson's volunteer fire department, said the city's police and fire departments share offices in Wilson.
"The offices are separated," Langerman said. "There's a door in between them."
But Langerman said the door that separates the offices isn't kept locked.
Langerman said he was told by John Kasper, the city attorney, not to discuss the theft of the beer, as charges are pending against Hill.
He also declined to discuss why beer was being kept at the fire department office.
Kasper also declined comment on the incident leading to the charges.
"In this period of time, until Brian's matter is taken care of, we're not going to go any further into it," Kasper said. "After either Brian is acquitted or he pleads guilty or whatever, then we'll be able to discuss this further."
Kasper also declined to address why the beer was at the fire department office.
Kyle Smith, director of communications and governmental affairs for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, confirmed that his agency investigated the incident but said he couldn't release any other information. He said Shepack was in charge of releasing information about the case.

**Tuff** · 08-04-07, 10:34 AM

Now thats a weird one!! Before its over there is going to be quite a few people in trouble...

**BigDawg** · 08-04-07, 10:51 AM

Kind of wonder a few things about this:

1) How much beer are we talking about here?

2) Why was the beer in the Fire Dept to begin with?

3) Who initiated this investigation?