Trooper’s lawyer makes conflict claim in personnel matter

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A lawyer for a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper, who criticized the agency after a handcuffed man fell from a patrol boat and drowned, said it’s a conflict for state Attorney General Chris Koster to represent police in a personnel matter involving his client.

The patrol said last month it was demoting Randy Henry to corporal. The Kansas City Star reports that he remains a sergeant pending his appeal.

Koster is representing several patrol members in a lawsuit related to the drowning of Brandon Ellingson. Because Henry is a witness for the plaintiffs, attorney Chet Pleban claims Koster’s office is “representing everybody who is at odds” with Henry.

Pleban has filed a conflict-of interest motion to a patrol review board, which will recommend whether the discipline should stand.

Koster’s office has denied any conflict of interest.