UPDATE: Governor dodges question on whether Brewer forced out

UPDATE POSTED 5 p.m. TUESDAY, NOV. 3

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – Gov. Andy Beshear said Tuesday investigators have found at least one more example of training material used by the Kentuclky State Police that used quotes from Hitler and Robert E. Lee.

But the governor twice dodged questions about whether the resignation Monday of Public Safety Commissioner Rodney Brewer, who also held the position under Beshear’s father, Steve Beshear, when he was governor.

“We have identified at least one other PowerPoint that appears to contain some of the same information from the same trainer. We have not yet been able to determine whether it is a different version, whether it was provided at a different time – we want to make sure we get answers to all of those questions,” Beshear said during his daily coronavirus briefing Tuesday when asked about the material and Brewer’s resignation, which  is effective Wednesday.

Beshear said the new material was found as part of a “top-to-bottom” investigation of not just public safety’s training but also training in other departments.

The governor has said the reviews are designed to make sure training in all departments is appropriate.

When asked on two occasions whether Brewer was forced out, Beshear repeated a statement he issued earlier Tuesday.

The governor has selected Lieutenant Colonel Phillip Burnett to be acting commissioner once Brewer’s resignation takes effect Wednesday.

Hall said the training materials were removed in 2013 and aren’t currently used.

ORIGINAL STORY

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ/Courier-Journal)- Kentucky State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer will resign by the end of the day Wednesday, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.

The newspaper reports a KSP spokesman says Lt. Col. Phillip Burnett will step in as interim commissioner until a permanent replacement is chosen.

No reason was given for Brewer’s resignation, but it comes after high school journalists published an article Friday that brought attention to an old KSP training slideshow that quoted Hitler and Robert E. Lee and encouraged violence.

In a statement Tuesday morning, Morgan Hall, the department’s communications director,

Phillip “PJ” Burnett

said, “Rodney Brewer has resigned as Kentucky State Police Commissioner effective November 4. Gov. Beshear has selected Lieutenant Colonel Phillip Burnett to be acting commissioner as of that date. The Governor, Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and Kentucky State Police thank Commissioner Brewer for his decades of service.

“As of today, the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet continues to work diligently to swiftly and thoroughly conduct an internal review of all training materials and will provide information as it becomes available. Gov. Beshear addressed this matter on Monday during his daily press briefing, to watch, click here,” Hall concluded.