Police Chief Don Rector

[KC]

LEXINGTON, Mo. -- Photos posted on Facebook got the police chief in Lexington suspended, because they show him at a party involving underage drinking.

The concern is over the age of those pictured in the photos and whether they are under 21, and, if so, why the city's top cop, Police Chief Don Rector, didn't stop them. KCTV5 has confirmed that there were people who were underage drinking at the party, but the other people in the Facebook photos have not been identified yet.

In a town the size of Lexington, those who share concern for what happened were uncomfortable sharing their identities.

"I wouldn't want my children to be at a house and be allowed to drink without my consent," one woman who didn't want to reveal her identity said. "So I feel like, as a police officer, whether it's on duty or not, he should have done something to stop it.

The chief's wife said he violated no law and would be returning to work after completing a two-week suspension to continue the positive contributions he's made in his 22 years with the department.

The chief's wife said she and her husband left their family friend's home soon after college-aged people showed up and started drinking, but not before one of them snapped the photos.

Some residents said if that's the case, they consider the incident a mountain made out of a molehill.

"If he were supplying the booze, that would be one thing," Lexington resident Chris Cochran said. "But you know, they say a cop is 24/7. Well, I know when I get off work, I am who I am, and I think he deserves the same kind of respect."