Little Rock issued a written reprimand to Police Chief Kenton Buckner on Tuesday after he reported one of his city-issued firearms as lost or stolen.
Buckner said Monday in a letter to City Manager Bruce Moore that he'd moved to a new home over Memorial Day weekend and hadn't been able to find his backup handgun, a .40-caliber Glock 27. The handgun is one of two Buckner received from the city after he was sworn in as chief last June.
"I have checked both locations with negative results. Because this was a back-up weapon, I do not handle or carry it every day," Buckner wrote in the letter. "I have no reason to believe a crime has occurred, but cannot be certain, which is why I listed the property as lost/stolen. ... My apologies for any negative light this may shed on our agency."
Buckner was reprimanded for improper or negligent handling of city property, according to a disciplinary action form filed Tuesday and signed by Moore.
No further action was taken.
Buckner, 46, provided the documents to the media Wednesday "to ensure there was transparency, considering my position with the agency."
The documents are among city employment records not available under the state's public information law. Because of that, Little Rock spokesman Luis Gonzalez said the city had no comment on the matter.
"Because that type of written reprimand is not available under [the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act], as the city, as his employer, we are not going to comment on a personnel matter," he said.
Buckner may submit a written rebuttal of the reprimand until June 19, but he said he will not.
"As chief, I have to be held accountable for my actions. There's nothing to rebut. I was responsible for the firearm. I'm held to the same standards, if not higher, that my [officers] are held to," he said.
Although Buckner said he hasn't finished unpacking at his new residence and will continue searching for the gun, he wrote in his letter that he'll reimburse the city for its $457.80 cost.
"It's still not out of the realm of possibility of going through some stuff, some boxes and bags, and saying, 'Oh, there it is,'" he said.
Buckner's home address was redacted in a police report filed Monday on the missing gun.
The department's policy on storage of city-issued equipment, known as General Order 108, states: "Officers who have lost, damaged or destroyed any equipment issued to them by the Department shall immediately report such to their immediate supervisor. The officer may be required to make restitution if the loss or damage is the result of negligence on the officer's part."
Information on the number of firearms reported lost or stolen by the department wasn't immediately available.
There were 317 guns reported as lost or stolen in Arkansas last year, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The majority of those, 177, were reported as lost. There were 140 firearms taken in burglaries or thefts, according to the agency.
Arkansas law does not require firearms owners to report missing guns.
Metro on 06/11/2015