MURRAY, KY — A Murray Police Department sergeant resigned Wednesday after being arrested by Kentucky State Police during an investigation into alleged criminal activity. The department said it first received information on Tuesday about possible wrongdoing involving Sgt. Justin Swope. After that report, Murray police asked state police to handle the criminal investigation and also started its own administrative review. The arrest came before the internal process was finished, according to the department’s statement.
How the case began
Police said the matter came to the department’s attention on Tuesday, when officials received information suggesting possible criminal conduct. The release did not describe the nature of the allegations or say where the reported activity may have occurred. Rather than investigate the criminal side alone, Murray police turned the case over to Kentucky State Police. At the same time, the department opened an internal administrative investigation to determine whether department policies were violated.
Arrest by state police
According to the department, Kentucky State Police arrested Swope on Wednesday while the investigations were still underway. No additional details about the arrest were included in the release, and officials did not say what charges, if any, were involved. The department said the arrest happened before its internal review was complete. That sequence suggests the criminal and administrative tracks were moving at the same time, with state police handling the law-enforcement side of the matter.
Resignation follows arrest
Officials said Swope resigned from the police department after the arrest. The release did not say whether the resignation was voluntary or connected to any agreement with investigators. It also did not list how long Swope had worked for the department or what his responsibilities were as a sergeant. For Murray police, the resignation closes one employment matter but leaves the broader criminal investigation in state police hands. The department has not announced any further personnel action.
What remains unknown
The public statement leaves several key questions unanswered, including the exact allegations, whether formal charges have been filed, and when the internal review will conclude. The department’s release focused on the sequence of events: information received Tuesday, state police asked to investigate, arrest Wednesday, and resignation afterward. No timeline was given for any next steps from Kentucky State Police. As of the release, officials had not provided further comment on the status of the case.
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