(KAIR)--The Atchison County Undersheriff has resigned.
Sheriff Jack Laurie confirmed Joe Butner's resignation in a press release issued Saturday.
Butner resigned following his arrest on suspicion of DUI. Laurie's statement follows:
Undersheriff Joe Butner has resigned from the Sheriff’s Office following his arrest by the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) for suspicion of driving under the influence at approximately 9:00PM 12/30/2016. Butner advised that he had intentionally pulled off of the roadway on South 73 Highway for a brief moment and KHP had stopped to make contact with him a short time later. (No details to the investigation are available from the Sheriff’s Office) Butner was later booked into the Atchison County Jail and posted a cash bond.
Sheriff Laurie was contacted by Butner, while in custody about the incident and advised that he was resigning effective immediately. Butner stated that he would not be available for comment but asked Sheriff Laurie to pass on the following message:
“No matter the outcome of the pending results, I want to sincerely apologize to the Sheriff, the Sheriff’s Office, KHP, all law enforcement, the Atchison Community, and my family for any embarrassment or disappointment that this incident may have caused. I greatly appreciate the opportunity I was given to serve the community the last four years and I will always cherish the support that the community has for the Sheriff’s Office. Please continue to support the Sheriff and the Sheriff’s Office as they will continue to do fine job.”
It is very unfortunate that Joe’s time here had to end this way as he has been a huge asset to me and the Sheriff's Office these last 4 years. Joe had already given me notice of his retirement for the first week of March. I do appreciate his dedication and passion for the Atchison County Sheriff’s Office and serving the community. Everything that he has done for the Sheriff’s office and the Atchison Community will not be forgotten. I am confident that Joe will persevere and live his retirement to the fullest.
Please be safe this holiday weekend and PLEASE don’t drink and drive.
(No further comment will be given about this matter by the Sheriff or the Atchison County Sheriff’s Office.)
