Lexington police sergeant demoted for misconduct

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – A Lexington police sergeant has been demoted after asking officers to drive by and run license plate numbers at a home of a woman he was once in a relationship with, according to the formal complaint.

The demotion of Sergeant Jervis Middleton was announced at Thursday’s Urban County Council meeting.  The demotion will result in a pay cut, according to the police department.

Middleton was acquitted of official misconduct earlier this year by a Fayette District Court jury after he was accused of using police computers to get information on a woman who accused him of spying on her and stalking her after their relationship ended.

That same woman tried to get an emergency protective order against Middleton, but a family court judge dismissed the request, concluding there wasn’t any evidence Middleton spied on or stalked the woman.

The Lexington Police Department conducted its own internal investigation.  Middleton reached a settlement with the city and department prior to his scheduled police misconduct hearing.

Middleton was on unpaid leave from August 5 until returning to work today.