VIDEO: Charleston City Council members call for second Hunt sexual misconduct case to be sent to prosecutors
CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — A committee made up of current and former employees of the Charleston Police Department will vote on a medical disability pension for former Police Chief James “Tyke” Hunt.
According to an agenda posted on the city of Charleston’s website, the four-member committee is scheduled to vote on pensions on June 21 at 1 p.m.
Committee member Charleston Police Chief and former Sergeant James Duncan offered his perspective on what the committee will discuss.
The committee will consider whether the injury was sustained while at work or off-duty.
Duncan said that if an injury is deemed to have been caused on the job, workers will be paid 60% of their salary for the 12 months prior to the injury, and the only time they will be paid less than 60% is if it exceeds 120% of their salary for the two years prior to the injury.
If the injury occurred outside of work hours, Duncan said, workers would receive 60% of their previous year’s pay, but if they earned an extra $18,200, the amount of their pension would be gradually reduced based on that extra income.
The four-person commission could end up with a tie, and Duncan said Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin would be the breakthrough vote.
According to Charleston Police, Hunt was demoted and suspended in April 2024 following an investigation into him and Sergeant Richie Basford. Police Lt. Tony Hazelett said Sergeant Basford has returned to full duty.
The Charleston Police Department said Hunt has been demoted to lieutenant and will serve as a corporal. Hunt served as police chief from 2020 to 2023, following the retirement of his predecessor, Opie Smith Jr., according to the city of Charleston.
This all came after two women filed formal complaints against former Chicago Police Chief James “Tyke” Hunt for sexual misconduct, who resigned on August 18, 2023, citing personal and health reasons, and Scott Dempsey was named interim chief, after he was subsequently sworn in as the city’s police chief.
The first complaint, from Jennifer Harless, prompted an investigation by West Virginia State Police: she was not a city employee, but she claimed she and Hunt had had a consensual sexual relationship, and Hunt began an FBI investigation into her.
City attorney Kevin Baker said the FBI investigated Jennifer Harless after Hunt’s wife complained that Harless had harassed her, but that the FBI opened the investigation because it takes such allegations seriously and that Hunt’s position as police chief has no influence on the investigation.
In late August 2023, McCoy filed a complaint with the City of Charleston, alleging that then-Officer Sergeant Tyke Hunt forced her to engage in sexual acts during the application process, and that she failed a polygraph test to qualify for police service, but that Hunt made her pass it.
McCoy, who applied to be a police officer in 2018, told local podcast “Scoop Squad, Truth Squad” that she was worried about passing a polygraph test because of her past drug use. She told Hunt about her concerns but didn’t mention drugs. Hunt reassured her that she would pass. McCoy said she lied during the polygraph test, but Hunt told her she passed. She filed a lawsuit against Hunt in March 2024.
In July, Charleston City Council Member Shannon Snodgrass cited Harless’ allegations in calling for an independent investigation into Hunt, and Council Member Beth Karns said in August that an investigation outside Hunt’s control was needed to avoid any conflicts of interest.
The Charleston City Council voted 21-5 on Aug. 7, 2023, against opening an outside investigation into allegations of misconduct by Police Chief Tyke Hunt.
Hunt was suspended without pay for three days in June 2022 after saying he had “misused city assets” in a July 2023 letter of apology to the Charleston City Council. Hunt did not specify what assets he misused.