Police seek equipment stolen after officer’s truck left running, unattended

Douglas County Sheriff’s officers are looking for a loaded gun, two bulletproof vests and several other pieces of police equipment taken from an unmarked pickup truck stolen Friday morning and abandoned in Kansas City, Mo.

No arrests have been made.

“We are working with Kansas City police and other agencies regarding this situation,” said Lt. Kari Wempe of the sheriff’s office.

Missing are one loaded Glock .40-caliber pistol, a pair of handcuffs, a pepper spray canister and its holder and the black brief case they were stored in, Wempe said. A second gun that was in the truck was recovered.

Also missing from another container are two bulletproof vests, a riot helmet and shield, and a Glock tactical knife.

The truck, a 2000 Ford F-150 with an extended cab, was stolen Friday morning from an officer’s home in south-central Douglas County. The officer had started the truck and then left it unattended for five minutes, Wempe said. When the officer returned, the truck was gone. A few hours later, the truck was found on Prospect Avenue in Kansas City, Mo.

The identity of the officer was not released, and Wempe would not comment on any possible disciplinary action that might be taken. The department also is investigating whether a state law was violated by the officer by leaving a running vehicle unattended, she said.

Investigators do not know if the truck theft was a random incident or if it was planned, Wempe said.

Anyone with information is asked to call 843-TIPS. Callers remain anonymous. They can also can call the sheriff’s office at 841-0007 if they want to talk to detectives.