RELATED:<\/b><\/p>\n Former London Mayor and current mayoral candidate Tracie Handley<\/a> says the investigation was revealed in a special-called meeting of the London-Laurel County Communications Center Board on February 3.<\/p>\n The only item on the meeting\u2019s agenda was \u201cCJIS Management Control.\u201d<\/p>\n During a London City Council meeting on February 2, the Acting Chief of the London Police Department, Gary Mehler, was asked about the situation. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s information security, criminal justice security, and they are looking into a few things. There may or may not have been a procedural error, and we\u2019re working to figure that out,\u201d Mehler said. <\/p>\n WKYT has made several attempts to reach out to the London Police Department for comment about the FBI\u2019s investigation. Those requests have not been returned. <\/p>\n The FBI\u2019s Criminal Justice Information Services Division<\/a> (CJIS) manages and operates several national crime information systems used by the public safety community for both criminal and civil purposes.<\/p>\n Among these systems is the National Crime Information Center<\/a> (NCIC). The U.S. Department of Justice describes the NCIC as \u201ca criminal records database allowing criminal justice agencies to enter or search for information about stolen property, missing or wanted persons, and domestic violence protection orders; to get criminal histories; and to access the National Sex Offender Registry.\u201d<\/p>\n On February 4, WKYT\u2019s Samantha Valentino<\/a> asked Sheriff Root whether the London-Laurel County Communications Center Board approved transferring control of NCIC usage from the London Police Department to the Laurel County Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n Additionally, Samantha asked Root whether the decision came at the request of Kentucky State Police due to an ongoing investigation by the FBI regarding LPD\u2019s NCIC usage.<\/p>\n In response to Samantha\u2019s questions, Sheriff Root said, \u201cYes it was changed and we were advised by KSP to change from London PD to LCSO. There is in fact a on going investigation by the FBI into the matter.\u201d<\/p>\n The FBI said that as a matter of longstanding policy, they can neither confirm nor deny the existence of any specific investigation.<\/p>\n Through an open records request, WKYT\u2019s Samantha Valentino<\/a> obtained emails between KSP and London-Laurel County 911 regarding CJIS management control. <\/p>\n On February 4, KSP LINK Audit Branch CJIS Compliance Supervisor Joilee Hall sent the below email to London-Laurel County 911 Director Larry Walls.<\/p>\n \u201cDue to recent findings of CJIS misuse by the London Police Department, they are being placed in a level A sanction causing total suspension of use of the CJIS network,\u201d Hall wrote. <\/p>\n Hall noted that as a result of the suspension, CJIS management control would have to be transferred to another agency, suggesting the Laurel County Sheriff\u2019s Office. <\/p>\n The email was sent one day after the London-Laurel County Communications Center Board transferred CJIS management control from the London Police Department to the Laurel County Sheriff\u2019s Office. <\/p>\n\n
![\"WKYT](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771554014_615_MEPHTWNVMREWLEQQWWFJM27ZMA.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"London-Laurel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/BWO7HUTTZNEINAZB3Q7CHUKCQQ.png\")
London-Laurel County Communications Center Board Meeting Agenda(London-Laurel County Communications Center Board)<\/p>\n![\"Email](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/CYEZ2MZGWJEGXOFC6VR3KMOZCI.png\")
Email from KSP to London-Laurel County 911(WKYT)<\/p>\n