Latest news with #SomersetPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
3 hurt in Somerset crash on Highway 27
SOMERSET, Ky. (FOX 56) — Three people were injured on Thursday, and one of them was flown to a hospital for treatment after a crash in the area of Highway 27 and Parkers Mill. The Somerset Fire Department posted on Facebook that on Thursday, crews were dispatched to the intersection of Highway 27 and Parkers Mill Way in response to a two-vehicle crash that left passengers unable to get out. When fire crews got to the scene, they reportedly had to use emergency lifesaving equipment to rescue those who had been hurt in the crash and get them to safety. Two people hurt in the crash were taken to a local hospital, and one was taken to a helipad to be flown out for treatment of their injuries. 3 hurt in Somerset crash on Highway 27 Western Kentucky pair killed in crash, 2 others hurt after driver allegedly loses control on KY-185 'Worst Tattoo Contest' underway in London: How to place your vote Officials did not list the conditions of those injured in the crash. The Somerset Police Department helped fire crews at the scene. An investigation into the two-vehicle crash remains ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
SPD scores high marks in KLC Safety and Liability Review
The Kentucky League of Cities is giving high praise to the Somerset Police Department, as well as high marks in a 'report card' that measures the department's safety. John Clark, law enforcement consultant for KLC, presented SPD Chief Josh Wesley with a plaque in commemoration of the department scoring 100% during a Safety and Liability Review of the department. The presentation took place during Monday's City Council meeting. Clark told the council that the review examines 60 areas for SPD personnel, such as driving, firearms training, response to resistance, and keeping track of evidence. 'That is a comprehensive look at an agency's leadership, training, policies, and best practices for law enforcement to see how they're doing. It's almost kind of like a report card that goes back to the League of Cities,' Clark said. The areas looked at are related to situations that could either get officers hurt or get the department sued—both of which could cause insurance premiums to rise. And because the city is insured through KLC, there is an incentive for both the city and KLC to measure law enforcement liability. A high score during this review translates into lower insurance premiums, Clark said, which means the city spends less money to insure the department. 'KLC, as you can imagine, has extremely high standards when it comes to these reviews,' Clark said. 'But the Somerset Police Department has demonstrated a 100% score in all of those areas. And that doesn't happen very often. They exceed professional standards in every area that we measured. '… This is an accomplishment for the police department, but it's also an accomplishment for the city and for you all,' he said to council members, 'because as you all are well aware, these things are not cheap. These things are not just put forth by effort, but many times they have to come to you all, and you have to fund the very things that keep them on the cutting edge of what keeps law enforcement and your community safe.' Somerset Mayor Alan Keck said that he believed this was only the second time the city has received this distinction. 'Chief Wesley, we're grateful for you and your team for your continued hard work,' Keck said. Also, at Monday's meeting, the council approved an ordinance that would update the city's tourism tax requirements to include short-term rental operators, such as Airbnb and Vrbo, to pay the same 4% transient tax that hotels and motels pay. Keck explained in a previous meeting – and City Attorney John Adams reiterated for the second reading – that when the original ordinance was passed in 2013, brand-name house rental services weren't as prevalent in the market as they are now. Therefore, short-term rentals weren't covered in the language used in that 2013 ordinance. The new ordinance will also place short-term rental operators in a category for membership in the local Tourism Commission. Council members also heard the first reading for two new ordinances. One would bring three new streets into the city street system: Innovation Avenue, United Drive, and Progress Lane. These three streets are part of the SPEDA Commerce Park industrial development area, located in the Barnesburg area. The second first reading was for a potential zone change for 100 Mardis St. The owner has requested a change from an industrial designation to Residential-3, or a multi-family residential area. Both items will receive a second reading and vote at a later date.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Somerset police ask community for help finding missing man
SOMERSET, Ky. (FOX 56) — Police in Somerset asked the public for help in a search for a missing 34-year-old man. Around noon on Wednesday, the Somerset Police Department posted on social media asking for help finding Robert 'Robbie' Caddell, 34. See the latest coverage of people missing in Kentucky Report a missing person(s) to FOX 56 News Law enforcement said Robert is 5 feet, 11 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds, with brown eyes and short brown hair, and the letter 'R' branded onto his right arm. Authorities said Robert was last seen in the East Saddlebrook area of Somerset wearing a neon yellow sweatshirt and blue jeans. He was possibly driving a blue 2018 Ford F-150 pickup truck with a Kentucky license plate reading '934 YDZ.' Read more of the latest Kentucky news Officers in Somerset wrote that anyone with information that could help find Robert is asked to call the Pulaski County 911 Dispatch Center at (606) 678-5008. 'It is crucial that this individual be located as soon as possible,' the department wrote. This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 56 News for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Yahoo
Somerset mourns death of 'loyal' retired police K-9 Viepo. What made this dog so special?
SOMERSET — Somerset Police Department is mourning the loss of 'loyal and dedicated' Viepo, a retired K-9 unit and partner that served alongside now-retired Officer Jared Linhares. The German shepherd, which was introduced to the department and tasked with patrol work in 2015, died of natural causes on Feb. 13 at the age of 12. 'He was going to be 13 in May,' Linhares said. 'Overall, he was very healthy.' Viepo and his handler Linhares were first partnered when Viepo, who came from Slovakia, was 18 months old. The pair spent eight years working together on the department. Linhares said that Viepo was the first K-9 unit to join the police department in over 30 years. Linhares and Viepo completed 14 weeks of drug and patrol training together with the Boston Police Department training unit in July 2015. He joined the department in August that year. Ruff job: Somerset's new comfort dog Raider already a big hit around town Linhares said Viepo — whose 'intelligence,' 'strength' and 'unmatched courage' are lauded in a Somerset Police Department post on Facebook — was 'actually a very social dog.' Viepo was trained to track suspects and missing persons, protect Linhares and apprehend suspects, but 'had a switch,' Linhares said. When he was working, he was '1,000 miles per hour,' Linhares said. 'Once I hit the remote start in the driveway for the cruiser,' Viepo knew they were heading to work. 'He loved it just like I did.' Though Viepo resided with Linhares, he was considered by former Somerset Police Chief George McNeil as not only a good resource to fight crime, but also a 'town celebrity,' and a tool for community outreach expected to star in school demonstrations in Somerset. 'I could walk around the station with him,' Linhares said. 'He'd let people pet him. … He was great with people.' During their time together, Linhares and Viepo's bond led them to serve several agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, and 'assisted some fugitive units [when it came to] apprehending wanted persons,' Linhares said. By virtue of belonging to the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council as a K-9 unit, Viepo served numerous Bristol County agencies throughout his career. Linhares 'took pride in us always being available when the phone rang,' and recounted late-night calls that he and Viepo responded to. Honey: This pit bull lost a leg after being shot by Fall River police. The owners are suing. A well-attended memorial for Viepo took place on Feb. 14 inside Bay State Veterinary at 463 Swansea Mall Drive in Swansea, with officers lining up to pay their respects to Viepo for his dedicated years of 'service and sacrifice,' the Somerset Police Department Facebook post reads. The department thanked Auclair's Market for donating food for Viepo from the day he entered the line of duty to even after Viepo retired from the force a couple of years ago. Linhares thanked those who called and sent messages of sympathy for their 'heartwarming' gesture. 'He was definitely deserving,' he said, 'And not just because he was mine.' This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Somerset Police Department retired K-9 patrol dog Viepo dies
