Mount Vernon Police Dept

By CHUCK MARTIN
News Staff Reporter

• Sgt. Robert “Kit” Morgan

MOUNT VERNON — Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher has asked the Mount Vernon Police Department to not use Detective Sgt. Kit Morgan on any felony investigations while BCI is conducting its investigation into actions by Morgan and Chief Mike Merrilees. The request also covers the period of any disciplinary action.

To read more about the investigation, see today’s edition of the Mount Vernon News available on newsstands.

Related

• A Mount Vernon News investigation of the Mount Vernon Police Department’s impound lot uncovered a “deal” that left a Mount Vernon man feeling taken advantage of by someone who took an oath to serve and protect him — and the citizens of Mount Vernon.
• A Mount Vernon business man claims he has lost money since 2010 when Mount Vernon Police Chief Mike Merrilees took him off the wrecker rotation after a debate over who had the rights to a motorcycle left in storage for almost two years.
• If an employee becomes aware of dishonest or illegal activities occurring in their company, they can blow the whistle on the activity and the perpetrator. But, in telling a higher authority of the misdeed, they can put themselves in a tough position.
• The Bureau of Criminal Investigation, in conjunction with the Ohio Ethics Commission, has opened an investigation into Mount Vernon Police Chief Mike Merrilees and Sgt. Robert “Kit” Morgan regarding allegations of misconduct.
• It’s not that the purchase of parking meters and parts by Mount Vernon Police Chief Mike Merrilees and then Cpl. Robert “Kit” Morgan at a city auction was illegal or against city policy, it was what happened next that continues to leave the perception that Merrilees and Morgan put their own self-interest ahead of public trust.
• A News investigation into the personnel file of Police Chief Mike Merrilees shows a rather unremarkable career with few accolades and evaluations that state his superior officers found him to be highly intelligent but lacked motivation.

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