Nighbert resigns as Williamsburg Police Officer

Williamsburg Police Officer Brad Nighbert resigned from the department Friday afternoon minutes before a hearing, which could have resulted in his termination from the department.
While on duty, Nighbert was involved in a serious automobile crash about 10:33 p.m. on April 12, and a toxicology test taken about three hours after the accident showed Nighbert had 0.001 milligrams of cocaine in his system, and 0.007 milligrams of Oxycodone.
Williamsburg Police Chief Denny Shelley said Nighbert had been suspended without pay about three weeks ago pending the administrative hearing.
The hearing had been delayed twice due to various reasons, and was scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. Friday in Mayor Roddy Harrison’s office.
Shelley said that state law prohibited the city from commenting on the suspension until final resolution of the administrative matter.
Nighbert’s resignation letter stated: “Dear Mayor Harrison and City Council Members: Please accept my resignation, effective September 8, 2006 as City Police Officer for the City of Williamsburg, Kentucky.
“I tender this resignation, after having given great thought to the circumstances under which I have been suspended by Mayor Harrison and the lack of support I received from the Mayor and the Department.
“At this time, I feel it is in my best interest to resign, and my resignation should not be interpreted by anyone as an admission that I have acted outside the scope of my employment, nor improperly carried out my duties in any manner. Very truly yours, Kenneth B. Nighbert.”
Although Nighbert’s resignation concludes the city’s internal investigation, he still faces a criminal investigation into the matter by Kentucky State Police.
Special prosecutor Thomas Smith said Tuesday afternoon that he plans to present the case to the Whitley County Grand Jury, but that a time frame hasn’t been set yet for when it will be presented.
“I’ve looked at the case. There needs to be further investigation. After the completion of the investigation, regardless of what it shows, I am going to present the evidence to a grand jury, and let them make a decision as to what, if anything, should be done,” Smith said.
Trooper Greg Hill, the accident reconstructionist investigating the accident, appeared before the Whitley County Grand Jury in July for 10 minutes to obtain grand jury subpoenas for the medical records of both Nighbert and Connie Jackson, the driver of the other vehicle in the crash.
Nighbert is the son of Kentucky Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert, who is a former Williamsburg Mayor.