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Caught in a cockfight: Clay County official latest to endorse Ky. billFeb 25, 2010 (The Times-Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- In the wake of the release of an undercover video of a cockfight attended by law enforcement officers, the Clay County sheriff is the latest to endorse a Kentucky bill that would make cockfighting a felony. According to John Goodwin, manager of animal fighting issues for The Humane Society of the United States, 27 Kentucky sheriffs now support a bill filed by Rep. Joni Jenkins, D-Lousiville, that clarifies the state's existing prohibition against animal fighting and makes the crime a felony. No Tri-County sheriffs are included among the names on a list Goodwin released late Wednesday. The endorsement by Clay County Sheriff Kevin Johnson follows the release of an undercover video taken by the animal rights group at the Laurel Creek Game Club in Clay County. The video, which Goodwin said was taken during cockfights in January 2009 and on Feb. 6, shows uniformed law enforcement officers present at the fights. On Wednesday, Johnson confirmed he had seen the video and that one of the officers present is Dwayne Hess, a volunteer deputy with his department. Johnson said Hess went to the Laurel Creek Game Club in January 2009 after his department received information that a fugitive was at the cockfight. An internal review is underway at the Clay County Sheriff's Department about the matter, Johnson said. Johnson emphasized he has supported the changes to the Kentucky law about animal fighting before the video's release because he believes animal fighting is cruel regardless of the species involved. "I'm definitely for the clarification of the law," Johnson said. Johnson declined to identify the state police officer shown at both fights in the video, although the Lexington Herald-Leader reported that Johnson identified the officer as Greg Hill of the London post. Capt. Lisa Rudzinski, London post commander, referred media questions to Lt. David Jude, the commander of Kentucky State Police Media Relations Branch. Jude, who also wouldn't identify the state policeman shown in the undercover video, said an internal inquiry has been initiated about the matter. Goodwin said The Humane Society of the U.S. first informed Kentucky State Police officials about the police presence at the fights but when that agency failed to respond, the video was made public. After undercover investigators first went to the Laurel Creek Game Club in 2009, Goodwin said it was a "shock" to find police there. "We've never been to the pit when there weren't uniformed officers there," Goodwin said. Kentucky is among 11 states where cockfighting is a misdemeanor, while in other states it is a felony offense, Goodwin said. Since some officials have questioned whether Kentucky law applies to birds, Kentucky police have been less likely to enforce animal cruelty laws when it comes to cockfights, Goodwin said. Goodwin cautioned that Kentucky could become more of a "hotbed" for cockfighting as surrounding states make penalties for animal fighting harsher. The Humane Society of the U.S. estimates there are about15 large-scale, organized cockfighting rings in Kentucky and Goodwin said the fights are always accompanied by illegal gambling. "That is why it (cockfighting) exists," Goodwin said. "It is an animal cruelty crime and gambling crime." To see more of The Times-Tribune or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.thetimestribune.com/. Copyright (c) 2010, The Times-Tribune, Corbin, Ky. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |