To the editor:
We believe voters in Guthrie County should be aware of actions taken by Matt Harmann in his capacity as a law enforcement officer as they decide whom to trust as their sheriff.
What follows is a summary of facts taken from open records that show Harmann’s failure to act in the best interests of the law, his fellow deputies and the community.
On the night of Dec. 17, 2023, while on duty as a Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff, Harmann assisted his personal friend and fellow deputy, Taylor Wheatley, as Wheatley engaged in misconduct and violated the policies of the Guthrie County Sheriff’s office.
In providing this assistance, it is clear that Harmann put his own personal relationship ahead of his duty to enforce the law and support the work and safety of his fellow deputies.
Wheatley was off duty and was driving an ATV on a rural road late at night when he saw a deputy’s patrol vehicle approaching. Because Wheatley had been drinking alcohol, he jumped off his ATV and fled on foot from the deputy, hiding on Hermann’s property.
The deputy on scene searched the ATV and found an empty gun case and an alcohol container. He could not identify the fleeing individual and feared that whoever it was might be armed. In fact, the deputy and the Panora Police Department officer who arrived to assist felt unsafe enough that they drew their weapons as they searched for the individual who had fled.
While hiding from the deputy on scene, Wheatley called Harmann, who was on duty that night. The two are friends and had been hunting together earlier that day. Harmann, who could hear the dispatcher, told Wheatley that deputies were indeed searching for him.
Harmann, rather than calling his fellow deputy on the scene to inform him about the call from Wheatley, instead arrived on scene and acted as though he didn’t know what was going on. He went as far as to say that Wheatley was at a wedding that night.
Several additional calls were exchanged between Wheatley and Harmann during the course of the situation, but the timeline and substance of those calls are unclear.
After the other deputies had given up the search and left the scene, Harmann — still on duty — picked up Wheatley, who was hiding in the ditch, and gave him a ride home.
Though Harmann did encourage Wheatley to call deputies, Harmann himself did not call the other deputies to inform them that he had found Wheatley on his property. Later that night, Harmann further tried to cover up the incident by telling the dispatcher to not make a case file and claiming it was all a misunderstanding.
Harmann then told the dispatcher that the ATV and its driver were UTL (unable to locate), despite the fact that he had just given Wheatley a ride home.
Harmann’s actions that night were deceptive and unethical. More importantly, they jeopardized the safety of others. Deputies drew their weapons because they didn’t know whom they were searching for, information that Harmann deliberately withheld from them.
The situation could have escalated into a tragedy very quickly. By trying to cover up Wheatley’s misconduct that night, Harmann was trying to help Wheatley avoid the repercussions he deserved.
Matt Harmann very clearly put his own personal interests ahead of his duty to enforce the law and protect the community.
Anyone who has additional questions should remember that you also have the right to request the open records on this case.
Kassandra Sheeder
Guthrie Center
