FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — In an open letter to the "citizens of Franklin County," Sheriff Chris Quire announced that Detective Jeff Farmer will be reassigned within the department.
This is in response to Farmer's attendance at a "political rally in Washington D.C." on Wednesday, January 6. That rally was the one that preceded the riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Farmer and a friend from Louisville told LEX 18 Thursday they did not riot or participate in any violence. Both said they never reached the Capitol steps because they left when the violence broke out. Deputy Farmer called the rioters disgraceful saying, "They deserve to go to jail for what they did."
While Farmer says the attendance was on his personal time, five public defenders at the Franklin County Trial Office sent LEX 18 an emailaddressed to Franklin County Sheriff Chris Quire. In it, they wrote, it was "necessary to stand up and voice our serious concerns over the conduct of one of your deputies." They pointed out the January 6th event, of which they wrote, "resulted in the storming of our nation's Capitol Building and multiple fatalities."
Sheriff Quire did not respond to an interview request from LEX 18 on Friday, but did write a statement to the "citizens of Franklin County" in response to the letter from the public defenders. The letter was obtained on Sunday.
The letter acknowledges Farmer's presence at the rally, then goes on to say:
"As for questions of Detective Farmer committing any crime during the event, he has stated his innocence and that is a presumption fundamental to the rule of law in our country. No evidence has been presented that indicates Detective Farmer committed any crime.
Concerning other accusations made in the letter, Detective Farmer is now being reassigned to another role within the Sheriff’s Office. A thorough investigation of all accusations in the letter will be conducted."
