For nearly two years, the KMBC 9 investigation has been investigating allegations of sexual assault within the ranks of the Kansas Highway Patrol. Now, there is a new twist. A male soldier says he was fired, retaliating against a Facebook post supporting women who came forward. Justin Dobler joined the Kansas Highway Patrol in 2017. And in 2020, when six women filed suit against him. Alleging harassment by KHP Colonel Herman Jones, Dobler posted a message of support on Facebook. And when he says things have changed.” It was just to scare us that we know what you’re doing and saying, you better start going our way, stay in our canoe or we Going to take care of you,” Dobler said. A lawyer for the Troopers Association says Dobler’s superiors used a deadly discovery to tarnish his reputation during a street patrol in March 2021. “The matter was not investigated at all by his lieutenant and captain except at the military level, both of whom found in their initial review that they had done nothing wrong,” said Sean McCauley, an attorney with the Kansas State Troopers Association. In July 2021, Dobler was fired from KHP. KMBC 9 investigators found transcripts from the Civil Services Board hearing, where Dobler claimed that his firing was the result of retaliation. KHP Lieutenant Bryce Velpley supported those claims, testifying that he was forced to change his review. About Dobler’s involvement in that deadly quest. “Captain Witham wrote me this letter… I wrote it because he wrote it to me. What should I do when my job is at risk?” On the stand, Witham said the review had been changed after receiving new training. Witham said that as part of the new review, he found that Dobler had committed “multiple violations” that led to his termination. Soon after testifying at Dobler’s hearing, Velpley found that his future with KHP was also uncertain. Within 24 hours of that testimony, he was placed on administrative leave and placed under investigation for his testimony. It’s troubling,” McCauley said. Dobler said he has nothing but respect for Wellpley no matter what the consequences for telling the truth. My heart hurts, my heart hurts, my heart still goes with the good guys on the highway patrol because there are so many good people out there. Unfortunately, there are a select few who are ruining it,” Dobler said. Velpley said he was told not to speak to anyone about his testimony. KMBC told the Kansas Highway Patrol for an interview. Said and he didn’t answer.
For nearly two years, the KMBC 9 investigation has been investigating allegations of sexual assault within the ranks of the Kansas Highway Patrol. Now a new twist has come.
A male soldier says he was fired in retaliation after a Facebook post supporting women who came forward.
Justin Dobler joined the Kansas Highway Patrol in 2017. And in 2020, when six women filed suit against KHP Colonel Herman Jones alleging harassment, Dobler posted a message of support on Facebook. And then he says that things have changed.
“It was just to scare us what you’re doing and saying, you better start going our way, stay in our canoe or we’re going to take care of you,” Dobler said.
Dobler believes retaliation was made against him for backing up the women’s claims. a lawyer for union of soldiers says Dobler’s superiors used a deadly discovery in March 2021 to tarnish his reputation in a street patrol.
“The matter was not investigated at all by his lieutenant and captain except at the military level, both of whom found in their initial review that they had done nothing wrong,” said Sean McCauley, an attorney with the Kansas State Troopers Association.
In July 2021, Dobler was fired from KHP.
KMBC 9 investigators found transcripts from the Civil Services Board hearing, where Dobler claimed that his firing was the result of retaliation.
KHP Lieutenant Bryce Velpley testified supporting the claims that he was forced to change his review of Dobler’s involvement in that fatal search.
“Captain Witham asked me to write this letter… I wrote it because he wrote it to me. What should I do when my job is at risk?”
On the stand, Witham said the review was changed after the new training. Witham said that as part of the new review, he found that Dobler had committed “multiple violations” that led to his termination.
Soon after testifying at Dobler’s hearing, Velpley found that his future with KHP was also uncertain.
“Within 24 hours of that testimony, he was placed on administrative leave and placed under investigation for his testimony. It’s disturbing,” McCauley said.
Dobler said he has nothing but respect for Wellply for speaking his truth, whatever the consequences.
“My heart aches, my heart aches, my heart is still with the good guys at Highway Patrol because there are so many good ones out there. Unfortunately, there are a select few who are ruining it,” Dobler said.
Velpley said he was told not to talk to anyone about his testimony. KMBC asked the Kansas Highway Patrol for an interview and did not respond.