The Fayette Police Department is facing intense scrutiny after drugs in evidence bags from old case files were discarded into a dumpster.

The cases allegedly dated back to the early 2000s, and the disposed evidence included pills, marijuana, bags with white powder resideue, and allegedly unused syringes. They were discarded into the city’s dumpster at the city sheds near C&R Market.

It has not been disclosed who found the drugs in the dumpster on Saturday, December 10, which is located on city property.

The matter came to a head at the most recent meeting of the Board of Aldermen on Tuesday, December 12. Stephanie Gilpin, a Community Health Worker-Certified (CHW-C) with the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program, told this newspaper that a client found the discarded evidence bags on Saturday. The client texted Gilpin, who then took photos and contacted dispatch.

Gilpin insisted she is coming forth as a concerned citizen and not on behalf the organization for which she works.

Gilpin was later met at the dumpster by City Marshal David Ford.

“I was met with aggravation and was told that it was being taken care of, and I could wait by the dumpster until they cleaned it up if I would like,” she said.

“If this was a careless mistake, hopefully, it is addressed, and processes will be set to not be overlooked again. Or if this has been policy, I think it is time for change,” Gilpin said during the council meeting.

Gilpin provided the photos to the city council.

The city has remained mum on the situation and has maintained that it is a personnel matter and that new procedures will be implemented to prevent this from happening again.

A statement to the Advertiser from Chief Ford on Monday echoes the city’s sentiments. “At this time we are investigating what happened and reviewing our policies and procedures but at this time it is a personal matter and I cannot comment further. Thank you for your time and consideration,” it reads.

Mayor Jeremy Dawson said at the meeting that he had been looking into the matter since it was brought to his attention on Saturday. 

“What I can tell you is Saturday, we were made aware of the situation. The situation wasn’t taken care of appropriately. We are investigating it as a city and how to handle it. It was not followed the way that it needed to be. But from now, it’s going to be a city personnel policy decision to get that taken care of. And at the same time, we’re going to be reviewing the disposal of evidence policy and how we take care of that.”

Gilpin told the council the incident is not singular to Fayette but is a nationwide problem, and asked what she could do to help prevent further occurrences. 

“My funders have been made aware, and we’re here to help the city fix this and get a solution,” Gilpin told the council.

Southwest Ward Alderwoman Bekki Galloway called the situation mind-blowing. “I think whatever we have to do, there needs to be a policy for all police departments so they know what to do because this is crazy.”

In a later statement to media, Alderwoman Galloway said she finds the whole situation horrifying. “Know that it is being taken seriously and I hope we can obtain investigation assistance.”

The city council meets regularly at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month in City Hall. Meetings are open, agendas are published in advance, and the public is invited.