'I would do it again': Whistleblower behind anonymous WVSP letter comes forward
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — The whistleblower behind an anonymous letter dating back to late last summer that sparked an investigation into West Virginia State Policehas come forward.
Cpl. Joseph Comer said he is the person responsible for an anonymous letter that detailed a litany of alleged wrongdoing, misconduct and otherwise bad behavior under the leadership of former West Virginia State Police Superintendent Jan Cahill.
Comer said he was forced to reveal his concerns publicly after first going through the chain of command and finding that those in positions of power were allegedly some of the ones engaged in questionable conduct.
“When I started going through my grievance process I realized how bad it was and the magnitude of how bad it was,” Comer said in an exclusive interview with Eyewitness News. “It took me a little bit because I wanted to keep faith in some of the administrators because I knew them as troopers. I knew them as they took rank. I wanted to truly believe that they weren't succumbing to what was going on. But when I realized into my grievance process who was involved and what was being manipulated I realized then just how bad it was.”
The trooper is currently on paid administrative leave and is facing charges of strangulation and battery as the result of a domestic dispute with the mother of his child.
Comer’s attorney contends his legal and career troubles are the result of targeted attacks by West Virginia State Police leadership because they suspect he was the root of the allegations against them.
“This thread of people was doing anything and everything they could to try to get something against Cpl. Comer to destroy his reputation and to destroy his career,” attorney David Moye said.
For nearly seven months, Comer has remained silent, but the anonymous letter sparked a probe into wrongdoing within the agency that includes a camera allegedly hidden in a women’s locker room at the State Police academy and a former captain accused of wrongdoing being allowed to retire without an investigation.
“The leadership has to happen, and it has to happen with men and women who are trusted, have accountability and are willing to accept accountability,” Comer said.
Comer said he hopes that the letter and subsequent investigations will in some way instill integrity back into the agency.
“That the young troopers that I've trained – the men and women that I consider family – that they have an honest opportunity to have the integrity restored,” Comer said. “That the faith’s restored, that we can go out and do our jobs without fear of retaliation from the administration.
The numerous accusations led to Cahill’s resignation and restructuring of the agency’s top brass.
“I’ve always been a voice that’s heard and I truly believe I stand up for what’s right, and I would do it again,” Comer said. “If I have to carry this for the integrity of it, then so be it.”
