Conway Police Chief’s Administration…Sexual Allegations ?…Harassment of Officers ?…Hiding Records ?…Nothing New Here.
Aug 10, 2025
In December of 2023, Chris Harris was named interim Conway Police Chief when then Chief William Tapley retired. In November of 2024, Mayor Bart Castleberry, removed the interim tag naming him permanent Chief.
Ever since Harris took over, he has continued the tradition Tapley had of concealing public records along with covering and protecting his chosen administrative staff when they commit bad acts like Conduct Unbecoming….Such is the case with Lieutenant Tom Kennedy.
In September of 2023, Kennedy was conducting an internal investigation into officers for making inappropriate sexual comments.
Officer Brittany Bryd was not one of the officers being investigated; however, she was interviewed by Kennedy as a witness in the matter.
Bryd asked Conway PD Major Lee Wood to be present as a witness to which he agreed. The interview took place on September 7th, 2023.
Now according to records, Byrd did not report the officers being investigated for their alleged comments nor did she witness the comments being said, so why did Kennedy call her in for the interview ?….Was it to create an opportunity to harass and berate her ?
According to Wood, the answer is yes.
In fact, Wood was so taken back by Kennedy’s harassment of Bryd during the interview that the next day he made an official complaint against Kennedy to then Assistant Chief Chris Harris detailing Kennedy’s actions.
Wood’s complaint is stunning in many ways.
- As you can see it details the inappropriateness of Kennedy interviewing Bryd in an investigation that had nothing to do with her other than the reporting Officer, Tiffany Conder, asking Bryd how to approach documenting the event to which she gave Conder sound advice.
- It documents that Kennedy’s purpose of interviewing Bryd was clearly to attack and berate her personally….Sounds like Kennedy is the one with the vendetta….But why ?
- The most stunning is the revelation of the allegation by Officer Rachael Kear that Kennedy had made inappropriate sexual comments about Conway District Court Judge Chris Carnahan….Ironic considering Kennedy was investigating Officers for inappropriate sexual comments.
In reference to why Carnahan was late for Court, records confirm that in a memo the allegation was that Kennedy stated to the effect – “Judge Carnahan is fucking his girlfriend in chambers.”
Yeah, I’d say stating something that absurd to an officer, or anyone for that matter, is inappropriate and conduct unbecoming.
Wood was absolutely justified in calling for an investigation into Kennedy’s comments about Judge Carnahan and his inappropriate conduct while interviewing Bryd.
Now as soon as the interview with Bryd was over, Kennedy must have sensed that he had gotten out over his skis and was nervous about what he realized was coming.
He quickly sent a memo to the Chain of Command that same day asking for an Administrative Inquiry but not into his actions…no no no…but rather into the actions of the person making the claim…..Basically, taking the spotlight off him and putting it on Kear and trying to throw her into the meat grinder.
Cowardly and slimy yet smart considering he was sending it to the very people he knew would cover him….You gotta give the Devil his due right ?
Now did anything come of this complaint against Kennedy or the allegations of the comments he made about Judge Carnahan ?….Of course not !
Just like nothing came of the complaint filed against Major Clay Smith for having an extramarital affair in 2021 & 2022 with then Chief William Tapley’s secretary Lela Celeste Phillips….Something court records show he admitted to and which I reported on in the past.
Officer Kear, clearly dissatisfied with the outcome and covering up for Kennedy, reached out to City Human Resource Director Lisa Mabry-Williams for help.
On January 29th, 2024, Kear sent Williams an email requesting a meeting with her to discuss the matter.
On February 6th, 2024, the two met along with HR manager Cody Arnold as a witness. Williams told Kear that the matter was closed and would not be reopened again.
While nothing came of the matter you gotta have a lot of respect for Kear. Here’s an officer standing up for what’s right against her own administration….That’s Damn Gutsy !
You also have to respect Major Wood as well for standing up and calling out Kennedy for Bullying Byrd.
Now what’s even more disturbing than Kennedy’s actions is that Chief Harris tried to conceal Wood’s complaint form me in effort to protect Kennedy….Can you say Epic Fail ?
On July 23rd I sent Harris the following FOI request –
To: Chris, Cc: Charles, Wed, Jul 23 at 7:49 AM
Message Body
Hey Chris
Under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act I request in electronic form via email all complaints against Tom Kennedy.
Thank you
Jimmie Cavin
Arkansas 1st News
501-412-9520
The Department responded the same day stating that there are no complaints on Kennedy.
To: me · Wed, Jul 23 at 9:59 AM
Message Body
Dear Jimmie Cavin,
The request Request Number: PD-2025-497 has been completed. Please click on the request link to download the response documentation. Based on your request, there were no complaints on Lt Kennedy.
What Harris didn’t know is that I already knew Wood had filed a complaint.
On July 28th I sent another request only this time I asked for the complaint filed by Wood….As Scooby Doo would say…. “RutRow !”
Harris then knew I had caught him in a lie and had no choice but to give me the complaint which he did on that same day.
Not only did Harris violate laws in the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act by concealing the complaint from me he also committed Tampering with Public Record which under AR Code 5-54-121 states –
(a) A person commits the offense of tampering with a public record if, with the purpose of impairing the verity, legibility, or availability of a public record, he or she knowingly:
(1) Makes a false entry in or falsely alters any public record; or
(2) Erases, obliterates, removes, destroys, or conceals a public record.
Violating 5-54-121 is a Class D Felony.
On Friday morning I emailed Harris telling him I was writing an article on the subject and asked him to call me.
I sent the same to City Attorney Charles Finkenbinder who is also a member of the State Legislature’s Freedom of Information Task Force.
I reached out to Kennedy as well with the following email –
To: tom.kennedy@conwayarkansas.gov · Fri, Aug 8 at 8:55 AM
Hey Tom
I writing an article that involves a complaint against you made by Major Wood.
I would like to visit with you about it.
Please give me a call.
Thanks
Jimmie Cavin
501-412-9520
Did I get a response from any of the three ?….What the Hell do you think ?
I certainly was not shocked that Harris and Kennedy tucked tail on the invitations….You see they can’t Bully or Intimidate me….and they know that.
The nonresponse from Finkenbinder was disappointing though….especially considering he is on the FOIA Task Force.
As I stated, this behavior is nothing new from the PD’s Administration “clique”….A Behavior that is clearly condoned by Mayor Bart Castleberry and the City Council.
In fact, just recently a PD employee requested their performance and evaluation records. Harris refused the request even though State laws say those records have to be released to the employee upon request.
The employee actually had to take Harris to court to get their own records !….That is going to be the subject of a near future article that will blow your mind.
Like I have been saying…. right now, it’s a toss-up on who is more corrupt….Harris and the Conway PD administration ?….Or the Conway School District administration ?
Both are equal embarrassments to the City and its residents.
Last thing and this is to Harris and Kennedy –
I gave you an opportunity to visit before I wrote the article so if you have issues with it….well you got my number.
#FactsNotFiction
Professional Bully Fighter I investigate and report on issues around the State of Arkansas with an emphasis on Government. I am strong conservative however I bring Truth and Facts regardless of Party affiliation….My hashtag is #FactsNotFiction
please please dog into the crap going on with FCSO and all their cover ups