CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – Locals in Charleston say they are looking to the city for answers after their former police chief was suspended and demoted for a second time.

Last week, Tyke Hunt was suspended without pay. Current Chief Scott Dempsey says there is no timeline for when that could end. When it does, Hunt will return to the department’s payroll on medical leave.

Hunt filed for medical leave in August before being placed on administrative leave in September. That prompted a seven-month investigation by the city, resulting in Hunt’s suspension.

Charleston residents like Rick Hayes say they are glad that a new chief has since been named, but that Hunt’s status with the department is questionable.

“It’s certainly encouraging and comforting to have a new leader that’s not embroiled in a whole bunch of controversy and a whole bunch of demotions going on for sure,” Hayes said. “It’s a bad look to have something so bad and negative come out about somebody and to keep them on the ranks as a public servant taking care of the community.”

Susan Gable, another Charleston resident, agrees.

“We look up to the police officers. You got kids wanting to be police officers. They’re our heroes. They have to act like it,” Gable said.

13 News reached out to Hunt for comment, but he did not respond.

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This comes after two women formally filed complaints against Hunt alleging sexual misconduct. Hunt resigned on Aug. 18 citing personal and medical reasons , and an interim chief was named.

The first complaint came from Jennifer Harless and prompted an investigation by the West Virginia State Police. She is not a city employee but alleges that she and Hunt had a consensual sexual relationship and that Hunt launched an FBI investigation into her.

According to city attorney Kevin Baker, the FBI did investigate Jennifer Harless after Hunt’s wife complained that she was being harassed by Harless. However, the FBI said they became involved because they take all such complaints seriously, and that Hunt’s position as police chief did not influence the investigation.

In late August 2023, a second woman, Chelsea McCoy, filed a complaint with the City of Charleston , alleging that she was pressured into having sex by then-Sergeant Tyke Hunt during her application process. She also alleges that she failed her polygraph test to be certified into the police force, but Hunt passed her anyway.

McCoy, who applied to be an officer in 2018, said on a local podcast, “Scoop Squad, Truth Squad,” in August 2023 and in a lawsuit she filed in March 2024 that she had been worried about passing the polygraph exam due to her past drug use. She told Hunt about her concerns but did not mention the drugs. She said Hunt reassured her that she would pass. McCoy said she lied during the polygraph but was told by Hunt that she passed.

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