Police Do Not Always Tell The Truth

Prosecutors have been forced to notify defendants in nearly 50 cases that a former Boise Police Department officer might have lied under oath, casting potential doubt on her testimony in their cases. According to Deputy City Attorney Bryan Norton, “It has come to the State's attention that on May 16, 2019, a Boise Police Department internal investigation sustained findings against Officer Kayse Stone for violating departmental policies regarding truthfulness in testimony in court.” This follows a June 5th internal email from Boise Police Capt. Brian Lee, of the office of professional development and standards, explaining: “Effective immediately, Kayse Stone #890 is no longer employed with the Boise Police Department. She is no longer allowed in BPD without an escort from a commander.”

Stone was a witness in at least 47 cases. When prosecutors learned of the findings of the internal investigation, they were obligated to let the defendants in those cases know. That requirement stems from a 1963 U.S. Supreme Court case, Brady v. Maryland, in which the high court ruled that prosecutors must turn over any evidence to the defense that could exonerate the defendant, including whether a police officer or witness has a history of providing untruthful testimony in court.