A Kansas sheriff's deputy reportedly "used excessive force multiple times" on a child with special needs, according to an order of reprimand from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers' Standards and Training (CPOST), the state's law enforcement credentialing body that issues licenses to peace officers. Eight months later, he still has his license.
The incident involves Matthew Honas, who was employed by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office from August 2006 to March of this year. On February 23, Honas responded to a call regarding an autistic 12-year-old runaway foster child, identified only as L.H. The order indicates that Honas "had dealt with L.H. in the past and was aware that he is autistic." In fact, Honas "had a physical struggle with L.H. prior to February 23, but there was no report or body camera footage of the prior event." Honas also did not wear his body camera on February 23, though his dashcam was recording during the interaction.
