Honorable Duane Murner

Oldham County Judge Executive

Recent negative comments directed toward the Oldham County Sheriff's Office by
County Attorney Candidate John Carter has put me in the unenviable position of having
to defend the integrity of our agency. In Mr. Carter's response to a recent Courier
Journal article with regard to the shooting incident in which he was involved, he states
that the Sheriff's office generated a report of the incident for political reasons at the
behest of County Attorney Candidate Stuart Ulferts. This is a complete
misrepresentation of the facts surrounding the report. In fact, in an attempt to remain
neutral on the issue, I directed a brief synopsis be submitted rather than a detailed
report. However, in light of the false accusations directed toward us by John Carter, I
feel you should be apprised of the entire situation.

As Deputy Schulte arrived at Mr. Carter's residence in response to the shooting

complaint, shots were still being fired. Logs at Oldham County Central Dispatch can
verify this. Upon approaching the residence, he observed a bottle of wine and a pistol
on Mr. Carter's deck. A home made target was observed in the yard. Deputy Schulte
made contact with Mr. Carter and when he inquired about the shooting; Mr. Carter, who
according to Deputy Schulte appeared and acted intoxicated, lied and stated he knew
nothing about shots being fired, although Deputy Schulte had heard the shots. Deputy
Schulte inquired about the pistol observed on the deck and proceeded toward it. Mr.
Carter attempted to physically block Deputy Schulte's approach to the deck. Due to a
gun and alcohol being involved and the belligerence shown by Mr. Carter, he was
handcuffed for safety reasons. Deputy Schulte called for backup and shortly thereafter
the Lagrange Police Department arrived. Officers of the Lagrange Police stayed with
Mr. Carter while Deputy Schulte contacted the complainants. The complainants, upon
realizing Mr. Carter was involved did not wish to pursue criminal charges. Mr. Carter
agreed to pay for damages and the issue was settled. That ended our involvement in
the incident at that time and a written report was not made. Documentation is usually
noted on dispatch logs. Deputy Schulte was not acquainted with Mr. Carter and didn't
know who resided at the address when he arrived.

Sometime in August, we began receiving inquiries about this incident. Stuart Ulferts
made an inquiry and asked if there was a written report. Mr. Ulferts was not the first to
inquire. I explained to Mr. Ulferts that the parties had settled the issue and therefore no
report was made. Mr. Ulferts made no further inquiry nor did he ask for or in any way
attempt to influence the Oldham Sheriff's Office to generate a report. As this was
apparently going to become an issue, I instructed Deputy Schulte to submit a brief
synopsis of the incident. Mr. Carter's campaign received the first copy when I personally
gave a copy to Tate Combs in my office. I explained the circumstances surrounding the
date of the report and specifically advised Mr. Combs that the Sheriff's Office did not
want to get in the middle of a "p contest" between John Carter and Stuart
Ulferts. Deputy Michael Meece, who was in my office at the time, can verify this.

John Carter is now falsely accusing the Sheriff's Office of engaging in politics by having
a brief report written. His assertion that Mr. Ulferts influenced our agency to make the
report ludicrous. Mr. Carter's campaign was made aware of why the report was written
well before the Courier Journal article. Apparently Mr.Combs either did not inform him or
he chose to ignore it. Additionally, had Mr. Carter chosen to respond to law
enforcement honestly and in a civil matter, this would not have been an issue and as
the perpetrator, he is solely responsible for any issues arising therefrom. However, like
many that I have dealt with in my 33 years in law enforcement, those responsible can't
seem to accept responsibility so the blame is cast at someone else. In this case at the
Sheriff's Office for some imagined political conspiracy. I'm sure his next accusation will
be the facts are fabricated, however responding law enforcement personnel and
Oldham County Central Dispatch logs will verify these facts.

This is not meant as a personal attack against John Carter. The sheriff's office must
work and cooperate with whomever is elected. However, as Mr. Carter's false
accusations reflect poorly on the Oldham County Sheriff's Office and another county
employee, Stuart Ulferts, I feel obligated to inform you, as Chief Executive of Oldham
County Government, ·of the facts surrounding this particular incident. I want to assure
you and members of the Oldham County Fiscal Court that the Oldham County Sheriff's
Office acts in a professional manner and does not generate reports for political reasons
or at the request of political candidates.

obert C. Noble/ lef Deputy

Oldham County Sheriff's Office