Salina ? A judge has ruled that a Reform Party candidate for governor did not pose as a police officer while seeking information on his son’s death.

Salina Municipal Court Judge Brenda Stoss on Wednesday ruled that Ken Cannon of Salina was not guilty of the misdemeanor charge of false impersonation of a law enforcement officer.

In testimony before the ruling, a Salina police investigator said Cannon identified himself as a Manhattan police officer during a phone call in February. Cannon adamantly denied that, saying he mistakenly called Salina police while he was looking for the Manhattan officer.

The Salina Journal reports that at the time, Cannon was publicly criticizing Salina police for their investigation of his son’s Jan. 8 shooting death. Police ruled it a suicide, but Cannon implied that he believes the death was gang-related.