A Louisville Metro Police officer has been suspended for 20 days, accused of violating the department's policies on truthfulness and forging a receipt.
Officer Jacqueline Hollingsworth was suspended effective May 10 after an investigation that initially began in January 2006 and at various times involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Commonwealth's Attorney's office and the department's internal professional standards unit.
In a letter issued to Hollingsworth on May 7, Police Chief Robert White said that he found reason to believe that Hollingsworth had violated the department's policy on truthfulness four times by providing false information during an investigation into her actions as treasurer of the Louisville Black Police Officers Organization.
Hollingsworth had been accused of taking money from the organization, which no longer exists.
Though the FBI and the department's Public Integrity Unit investigated Hollingsworth, she was never charged with any crime.
Her suspension stems from the Professional Standards Unit's investigation, which looks into violations of department policy. Hollingsworth has 10 days to appeal her suspension, which she had not done as of Tuesday, said Sgt. Robert Biven, a police spokesman.
She had been placed on desk duty late last year as the professional standards investigation was conducted, Biven said.
Hollingsworth could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Police initially began their investigation in January 2006, as a criminal investigation was being done by the FBI. According to Hollingsworth's suspension letter, she submitted a forged receipt to investigators in order to show that she'd paid $1,600 to Central High School for an event in March 2004. But that receipt was found to be false, and witnesses from the school system said no money had been paid to them.
White said he found three other things Hollingsworth lied about. All three were related to statements she made about the finances of the Louisville Black Police Officers Organization.
Hollingsworth has a history of discipline during her time as an officer, which started with the former city department in June 1993. She has several written reprimands in her personnel file, including for not handling her equipment properly, not staying in her assigned post, and having a car accident.
She was suspended for four days in 2005 for violating the department's truthfulness policy during an investigation into a situation involving parking during the Kentucky Derby. She appealed that decision and the suspension was lowered to three days.