The Dexter, Mo., police chief's job as a federal baggage screener was cut short Friday after Transportation Security Administration officials learned he was under indictment.

Ken Rinehart was finishing his Transportation Security Administration on-the-job training in St. Louis and planned to start working at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. TSA spokeswoman Chris Rhatigan said he was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation of whether he falsified a TSA form during the application process.

Rinehart was indicted in January on charges that he hindered prosecution of sex crimes committed by a police officer in his department. The TSA form asks if applicants have been arrested.

But Jim Spain, Rinehart's Poplar Bluff, Mo., attorney, said his client was honest on the form, including details about the indictment. "I don't know who's wrong, but it isn't Ken Rinehart," he said.

Spain said Rinehart asked him about filling out the application, and Spain encouraged him to apply and include the Stoddard County charge. The attorney said TSA officials were aware of the indictment and offered Rinehart the job anyway.

The police chief resigned his Dexter job this week with the understanding he'd be working for the TSA, Spain said.

TSA spokesman Brian Turmail said the agency can't comment on Rinehart's application because it's part of the investigation, but an extensive, four-part background check on all TSA applicants would have revealed any legal entanglements. Employees are under constant supervision while the checks are being done.

Dexter Mayor Joe Weber issued a brief press release Wednesday saying he'd accepted Rinehart's resignation effective Nov. 12. After the indictment, the board of aldermen moved the chief into several paying city jobs outside the police department.

According to the charge, Rinehart and police Sgt. Sammy Stone met with officer Robert Kennedy and agreed to keep accusations against Kennedy among the three of them. Kennedy later pleaded guilty to two counts of statutory rape and one count of deviant sexual intercourse and was sentenced to probation in September 2001.

Rinehart's trial in Dunklin County on a change of venue will begin Dec. 5. There's a gag order in the case.

Rinehart didn't return phone messages left Thursday and Friday.

President Bush signed legislation creating the TSA in November 2001 to make air travel safer. The law made baggage handlers and airport security agents federal employees.

There are six temporary, part-time TSA screeners at the Cape Girardeau airport this week, due to be replaced by permanent employees next week, airport manager Bruce Loy said. He said he is confident in the TSA security procedures and in the agency's handling of Rinehart.

"I'm sure they will get to the bottom of this issue and figure out what to do," Loy said.

hhall@semissourian.com

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