TOPEKA, KS — The Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) has responded to a wave of confusion surrounding a personal social media post made by one of its troopers. The post, which appeared to solicit donations for personal travel, was a hot topic online this week, leading the KHP to clarify the situation.
The post in question was made on Monday by Trooper Ben Gardner on his personal social media account. Gardner wrote about the high cost of gas as he drove his Jeep on repeated trips to Michigan. He mentioned that some followers had already reached out to him, and in response, he shared ways people could help him with his travel expenses.
The post sparked immediate discussion among followers, with some questioning its authenticity and whether it was truly from the well-known Trooper Ben.
The Kansas Highway Patrol issued a statement on Wednesday addressing the matter. “The KHP is aware of a social media post by an employee who appears to be either soliciting or accepting donations in furtherance of personal travel,” the statement read.
The agency also noted the difficulty in distinguishing between a trooper’s private and professional posts. “Because the employee’s private posts are often difficult to distinguish from their professional posts, the messages can be confusing and are neither approved by nor associated with KHP business,” the KHP said.
