06/12/2026
Frankfort Police K9 Handler Charged Following
Animal Cruelty Investigation
The Boone County Prosecutor's Office has filed criminal charges against Ethan Cunningham following an investigation conducted by the Boone County Sheriff's Office into an animal cruelty complaint involving a Frankfort Police Department K9 handler.
Cunningham has been charged with:
• Official Misconduct, a Level 6 Felony
• Animal Cruelty, a Class A Misdemeanor
Cunningham surrendered at the Boone County Jail without incident.
The investigation began after the Lebanon Police Department requested that the Boone County Sheriff's Office conduct an independent review of the incident due to a conflict of interest. Over the course of the investigation, detectives reviewed video evidence, conducted interviews, obtained records, and followed up on information received from multiple sources.
The Boone County Sheriff's Office would like to thank the Frankfort Police Department, the Boone County Prosecutor's Office, the Lebanon Police Department, and all individuals who cooperated during the investigation.
As this case is now before the court, the Boone County Sheriff's Office will not be releasing additional details regarding the investigation.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.