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I-Team exclusive: Police sources say high-ranking KCPD officer under federal investigation

Posted at 8:42 PM, Mar 22, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-22 23:16:35-04

The 41 Action News Investigators have learned the FBI is investigating a high-ranking officer with the Kansas City Police Department.

In November, the I-Team began looking into Major Melvin Harvey after multiple police sources accused him of falsifying numbers on his timesheets for off-duty work, including hours billed to Kansas City Public Schools.

Harvey’s name is on a list of Kansas City, Missouri police officers who work off-duty for KCPS.

According to sources obtained by the I-Team, the major’s job with the school system involved scheduling other officers to work security at the schools.

The positions are paid for by a federal grant. 

How the FBI got involved

The major was required to submit the hours he worked for KCPS to both the school system and the police department.

According to sources, the FBI began investigating when it was discovered that the hours Harvey submitted to the school didn’t match up with the hours he submitted to the police department.

The 41 Action News Investigators requested the timesheets from both KCPS and KCPD to compare.

KCPS officials denied the request, saying they can’t provide the records because of pending litigation.

KCPD said it also wouldn’t reveal the hours Harvey submitted because that information is part of a personnel record.

Who tracked Harvey’s off-duty hours

In emails obtained by the I-Team, it was discovered that Harvey wrote Chief Darryl Forte in August 2016, asking to be put in charge of the off-duty unit and the system that keeps track of the hours.

“Per our conversation on Monday, August 15, 2016, regarding the Secondary Employment Management System. Once the new Human Resources Director is hired, I am requesting to be the Commander in charge of the Off Duty Unit and Secondary Employment Management System. Since being the Acting Director of Human Resources, I have found numerous problems with the software provider and we are in agreement that the system needs to be updated.”

The email shows Forte approved the request.

RELATED | Chief Forte announces his retirement

Harvey denies knowledge of federal investigation

A spokesperson for the police department wouldn’t confirm if Harvey was being investigated for any wrongdoing. In January, the 41 Action News Investigators caught up with the major outside his home where he said he also wasn’t aware of any investigation.