Glasgow police release body cam footage to refute viral complaint

GLASGOW, Ky. (WNKY) – Glasgow police released body camera footage Wednesday to refute a social media post that alleged an officer disrespected a veteran during a traffic stop, a claim that local officials say was entirely false.

The controversy began earlier this year when Royce Bunch posted on Facebook that his friend, a veteran, was pulled over on the way to the dump and asked for leniency on a speeding ticket. In the post, Bunch claimed the officer replied, “I’m not [a veteran], so it doesn’t mean anything to me.” The post quickly circulated online, raising questions about how local officers were treating veterans.

Barren County Sheriff Kent Keen said he initially investigated the matter because the complaint was submitted to his office. But he said the details didn’t add up.

“When I started investigating the complaint, I realized it wasn’t my deputy. It was a city police officer,” Keen said. “And when we looked at the video, those details just weren’t factual.”

Keen then contacted Glasgow Police Chief Guy Howie, whose department handled the stop. Both officials reviewed the officer’s body camera video, which showed the driver was stopped for going 20 miles per hour over the limit. Neither the driver nor the officer mentioned anything about being a veteran.

In fact, officials said, the officer who made the stop is himself a veteran with multiple overseas deployments.

Chief Howie said that because the complaint was already circulating on social media, he decided to allow the public to view the video in person. Members of the press and community gathered Wednesday at the police department’s training room to see the footage.

“With the demand of the public, we offered it up for a viewing today,” Howie said. “I want a transparent agency, so the community has confidence we’re not trying to hide anything.”

Howie emphasized that one of the department’s core values is respect, and said he personally reviewed the video to determine whether the complaint had merit. “When we get a complaint, I have an obligation to see if it happened. In this case, the officer was totally exonerated,” he said.

Bunch, who lodged the complaint, attended the viewing and admitted his information was inaccurate. “I will personally apologize to both the Chief and Sheriff, but that’s not exactly the information I got,” he said.

Both Keen and Howie said the release of the video was important not only to clear the officer’s name, but also to reassure the community that complaints are taken seriously.

Keen added that the sheriff’s office and city police remain committed to traffic enforcement, particularly with federal funding that supports patrols for speeding and seatbelt violations. “When we take an oath of office, it’s to enforce all the laws, not the ones we pick and choose,” he said.

Officials say they hope the incident demonstrates how body cameras protect both the public and officers, documenting interactions that can prevent misinformation from spreading.

Chief Howie said this instance is rare for the Glasgow police releasing in this way but that he is willing to do so again if it helps maintain public trust.