A former police officer in Kansas has lost his law enforcement certification after misusing donated gift cards meant for a community holiday program. Anthony Reyes, who worked for the Tonganoxie Police Department from March 2021 to January 2024, was found guilty of handing out the gift cards to his friends instead of using them as intended.
Here’s what went down: In December 2023, a local radio station donated gift cards to the police department for a holiday initiative. The idea was simple and thoughtful — when officers pulled over drivers for minor traffic violations, they could give a warning along with a gift card as a gesture of goodwill. Officers participating in the program were supposed to record these encounters on their body cameras for accountability.
Initially, Reyes chose not to take part in the program. But later, he asked for several gift cards. Things started to unravel when the department reviewed body cam footage of one of his giveaways on December 2. Reyes had stopped a woman who worked at a convenience store he often visited — and it turned out they were friends.
The footage raised eyebrows. The stop didn’t look like a real traffic stop: Reyes hadn’t turned on his patrol car’s lights, and the woman’s car wasn’t even running. She was standing outside the vehicle, and at one point, Reyes gestured for her to get inside. When she told him her car keys and driver’s license were inside the store, the whole situation seemed even more suspicious.
To make things worse, another employee at the store was heard on the video teasing Reyes, saying, “You could have at least turned the lights on.” Reyes responded by motioning for the employee to stay quiet, placing his finger to his lips.
It didn’t end there. Investigators found out Reyes had given gift cards to two other employees at the same store — both of whom were also his friends.
When questioned by the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training (KS-CPOST), Reyes claimed his police chief had ordered him to hand out three gift cards, even though the program was voluntary. But investigators later determined that Reyes wasn’t telling the truth during their August 2024 meeting.
As a result of his actions and the dishonesty that followed, Reyes was stripped of his law enforcement certification. He’s no longer allowed to serve as a police officer in Kansas. Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.
