LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Utica Police Department fired one of its officers last week after a storage tote containing officer case files and illegal substances was discovered at a Utica firehouse, but officials aren't releasing his name.

The city of Jeffersonville is taking over the fire station from New Chapel EMS in the wake of the Jamey Noel scandal. The former Clark County Sheriff is in prison serving a 12-year sentence for stealing millions from taxpayers through years of fraud and misconduct. 

In a Facebook post on May 4, Utica Police Chief Randy R. Burton said the unnamed officer was fired May 1 -- a day after the tote was discovered in an unsecured area of the firehouse, near a Utica Police Department vehicle. "The odor of marijuana" was detected near the tote after it was moved outdoors on April 30. A volunteer helping officials clean up the firehouse immediately notified a member of the Utica Township Fire District Board. 

That's when an Indiana State Trooper responded to the firehouse on Utica Pike and found the tote contained "drug paraphernalia, suspected THC butter, and plastic bags with plant material," according to the post on Facebook. 

The chief clarified no other illegal substances were found in the tote, despite an earlier report indicating the tote contained possible meth, salvia and cocaine. 

Shawn Bostoc, one of the volunteers helping clean the firehouse on Utica Pike, said he and several retired firefighters wanted to help with the cleanup. He was shocked by the discovery.

"It is unnerving that we can have four years worth of evidence sitting a half mile from the safe it's supposed to be, and nobody knew," Bostock said. 

Bostock said there were also case files belonging to the Utica Police Department. The case dates ranged from 2021 through March 2024.

"We find police reports, arrest reports, juvenile arrest reports, juvenile victim reports with their names, identifying information," he said. "Ultimately, we did find the officer's name. Of course, it was on all the reports."

Chief Burton has yet to release the name of the terminated officer, except to say it was the officer "assigned to the police vehicle near where the tote was found." In his Facebook post Burton explained why he is withholding the officer's identity: "Because this matter involves internal personnel actions and is not currently part of a criminal investigation, the officer's name will not be released." 

Burton has not responded to a request for comment. 

The investigation and findings have been sent to the Clark County Prosecutor's Office for review, according to Burton. 

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