State alleges LPD officer offered underage woman alcohol, solicited sex

Libby Police Sgt. Ron Buckner’s future in law enforcement is in jeopardy after the Montana Department of Justice determined he violated a number of procedures in multiple actions while on duty from Aug. 2022 to Sept. 2023.

Buckner became the subject of a state investigation in 2024 following a complaint made against him. The Department of Criminal Investigation accepted a request more than a year ago to investigate a number of complaints.

At the time, Libby Police Chief Cody Ercanbrack said Buckner was on paid leave of absence pending the review of employment matters. Buckner’s leave began on Dec. 6, 2023. His paid leave ended in August 2024.

Two of the allegations against Buckner that the Montana Public Safety Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) sustained in their inquiry resulted from an alleged incidents Aug. 31, 2022.

The allegations said Buckner was on duty in his patrol vehicle when he offered to provide alcohol to a female under the age of 21, then propositioned the same female for sex, stating she should go into the woods with him and “do it.”

The alleged victim spoke via video during a Feb. 26 hearing in Helena.

“My goal is to prevent this from happening to anyone else. I realized I was groomed, preyed on and potentially coerced into an inappropriate and uncomfortable position,” she said. “I feel it is critical for those in power to know the gravity of what can happen when people of authority abuse their position.”

Sarah Sorenson, one of the owners of Cabinet Mountain Brewing Co. in Libby, vouched for the alleged victim’s character.

“I vouch for her personal integrity and I’m proud of her for standing up for herself.”

Timothy Allred, the Executive Director of the Montana POST Council, wrote a letter, dated Feb. 28, to Buckner. It detailed the allegations against Buckner, whether they were sustained or not and a “Voluntary Surrender of POST Certificates” form.

Allred explained in the letter that Buckner has until April 4 to accept the sanction against him or reject the offer and provide a counter offer, “explicitly stating what you believe an appropriate sanction might be and why.”

Buckner and his wife Caroline attended the hearing in person. Each spoke of his feelings for and dedication to Libby.

“Ron became involved in law enforcement because he wanted to serve his community,” Caroline Buckner said. “A woman told me his actions helped save her life.”

Ron Buckner shared his nine-year devotion to the Libby police force. “I got into it because I care about my community.”

Buckner, nor his attorney, Lance Jasper, made any comments for this story.

Libby Mayor Peggy Williams only comment was, “From our standpoint, it’s a personnel matter and we can’t comment on it.”

In 2023, there were three separate incidents involving Buckner where POST determined he violated procedures involving officer safety, allowed a woman to take possession of a loaded syringe and failed to properly secure evidence.

In the first incident on Sept. 1, 2023, state investigators allege Buckner delayed an attempt to wake an unconscious driver to determine if he needed medical assistance. They also alleged Buckner deactivated his body-worn camera while transporting a person and then failed to have a vehicle towed that presented a public safety issue. Investigators also alleged Buckner’s report had several inaccuracies. 

POST also sustained a complaint against Buckner for his alleged actions on Sept. 9, 2023, when he responded to a call and didn’t turn on his body-worn camera, allowed a woman to assault a man in Buckner’s presence and allowed the same woman to take possession of a loaded syringe and move it out of his sight after telling her it “needs to go bye-bye.” He was also accused of not making an arrest or charging anyone regarding the paraphernalia or any other offense during this incident.

The third incident POST sustained occurred Sept. 10, 2023, while Buckner responded to a stabbing. He is accused of failing to secure evidence in the case and appropriately processing the evidence after being directed to do so.

Buckner was offered a stipulated sanction for him to voluntarily surrender his POST certification, meaning he could avoid a costly and potentially public contested-case hearing.

Sarah Williams also spoke on Buckner’s behalf.

“I’ve known Ron Buckner for over 20 years and he is the definition of the law enforcement code of ethics,” Williams said. “He has helped a friend of mine get out of a terribly abusive situation. He did everything to give her the tools to get safe. It’s a disservice to the community to not have him there.”

The city has had more than its share of difficulties with the police department, but seemed to be headed in a favorable direction after it hired a new chief and a number of officers following the events that occurred in late 2022 and 2023.

Three police officers, Ian Smith, Chris Pape and Cody DeWitt, quit the force on Nov. 21, 2022. They were critical of former Chief Scott Kessel and were concerned with his leadership, forced overtime, not assisting with patrol responsibilities, and giving incorrect direction regarding policy and procedure.

Smith spoke in support of Buckner via video at the Feb. 26 hearing.

“I’ve been in law enforcement for six years, worked with Ron for four of them, and I know for a fact that the city is at fault and Ron should be reinstated,” Smith said.

Montana POST received complaints on Kessel and, after an investigation, met on Nov. 21, 2023 to discuss the former chief's case. According to an email to The Western News from Bolger, the case status committee of the POST Council determined that Kessel engaged in unprofessional and biased conduct as well as making numerous inappropriate, sexual comments in the workplace.

An allegation of dishonesty was not sustained.

Bolger also said in the email that the committee elected to send Kessel an offer of a stipulated sanction. If he agreed to POST’s offer, his certification would be placed on a two-year stayed suspension, on probation conditions. He would also have to agree to receive sexual harassment training within six months of reappointment as a public safety officer.

Kessel offered the following statement in an email to The Western News.

"I do not agree with the POST recommendation and have responded accordingly. POST will meet to discuss the issues I have raised and issue a final decision," Kessel wrote.

But, in an email from Bolger, POST never reached an agreement with Kessel.

“POST issued a Notice of POST Action, imposing the sanction and he did not request a hearing,” Bolger said.

Libby City Council voted unanimously on April 3, 2023 to approve a separation agreement with Kessel, ending his six-year term as chief. Kessel, who joined the force in 2016, became chief in 2017.

A fourth officer, Joshua Brabo, left the department in the spring of 2023, leaving Buckner as the agency's lone officer.

Then, on March 6, 2023, Libby City Council appointed three people, John Beebe, Steven Boyer and Karen Dinkins, to the city’s Police Commission. It had become defunct and that came to light in the aftermath of the three officers' resignations.

At a Nov. 17, 2023, Libby Police Commission meeting, Beebe, then-chair, spoke about recognizing Buckner, in part, for being the lone city officer to remain on the force following the resignation of four officers and the negotiated agreement leading to Kessel's departure.

“He showed a willingness to remain while others didn’t maintain his professionalism and commitment to the city,” Beebe said. “He went above and beyond.”

Before Beebe’s recent resignation from the commission, he, Boyer and Dinkins voted to recommend that Ercanbrack consider Buckner for recognition.