One Officer Resigns, One on Leave Following Investigation

LONGVIEW — A police officer in Longview has resigned from his position on the squad and a lieutenant has been placed on leave as a result of an investigation into allegations of alleged sexual contact while on duty. According to the Longview Police Department, Patrol Office Adam Vanover submitted his resignation Friday, April 25th after an investigation stemmed from allegations he had engaged in sexual conduct while on duty. Also, Lt. Ronald Buckner, a 34 year veteran with Longview Police Department, was placed on leave after he was accused of being involved in the situation concerning Vanover. Longview Chief of Police Don Dingler said they have reason to believe Vanover downloaded and received explicit material on the department’s computer equipment while on duty as well as engaged in sexual contact.

Along with the previous allegations, Dingler says Vanover is also accused of inappropriate speech on social media. Vanover, who began with the department in March 2008, was also accused of breaking the Code of Conduct due to his speech on social media. The section of the policy Vanover was accused of violating prohibits the use of “speech containing obscene or sexually explicit language, images, or acts and statements, or other forms of speech that ridicule, malign, disparage or otherwise express bias against any race, any religion, or any protected class of individual.” Buckner is accused of committing violations against the LPD Code of Conduct as well as the Longview Personnel Policies and Procedures. This includes allegations Buckner warned a person of an investigation and engaged in contact violating the moral code of a police officer and officer-related business. At this time, it is unclear how the two cases are related.