The Grovetown police chief says he is “highly disappointed” in the way an officer handled a call about a potentially human bone found by a resident.
Chief Jamey Kitchens said the officer has been placed on administrative leave after a review of bodycam footage of the interaction. An internal affairs investigation is also underway.
Resident Steve Krecskay said he was walking down Charlotte Avenue this week when he noticed what looked like a large femur bone protruding from the ground. Unsure whether it was human or animal, he contacted the Grovetown Police Department.
But the officer’s response, Krecskay said, was dismissive and unprofessional.
“OK. So it’s a bone in the yard! What do you want me to do about it?” the officer allegedly replied. According to Krecskay, the officer claimed the department “didn’t do forensics on bones” and accused him of wasting police time.
Krecskay described the interaction as “flippant and belligerent” in a Facebook post, where he also shared a photo of the bone. He added that the officer never identified himself or provided a business card.
“I really thought the Grovetown Police had improved a lot in my 53 years as a citizen, but this guy just threw that opinion out the window,” he wrote. “He CLEARLY needs an attitude adjustment.”
Krecskay also shared his experience on The Austin Rhodes Show on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Chief Kitchens confirmed that the complaint was substantiated and said the officer’s behavior fell short of department standards.
“This is not the conduct we expect or accept from our employees,” Kitchens said. “We demand better. This kind of behavior will not be tolerated.”
In a subsequent message, Krecskay said the reply to his complaint was well-received and restored his confidence in the agency. “Grovetown’s finest are STILL the finest!” he said.
Chief Kitchens emphasized the importance of the department’s recently acquired bodycams — a $225,000 investment — in providing transparency, saying they allow him to see officer interactions in real time.
Following a review of the bone with local experts, authorities determined it was likely from a cow, not a human. The Columbia County Coroner’s Office says they were not involved in the investigation or review.
The internal investigation is ongoing, and the department hopes to conclude it by next week.
