Ex-Eaton police officer, Preble deputy killed in Afghanistan

A former Eaton police officer and Preble County sheriff’s deputy, who was working as a contractor in Afghanistan training local police, has been killed in that country.

Kurt Muncy, 42, was an international police adviser for DynCorp International, Falls Church, Va., and had been with the military contractor at least five years.

Muncy’s death is believed to have occurred Tuesday morning as a result of a suicide bombing on Camp North Gate civilian base near Kabul, according to media reports, which also report that the Taliban claimed responsibility. The incident occurred at 4:30 a.m. when a truck laden with explosives detonated at the base about 24 miles from Bagram Air Base, primarily used to house employees of DynCorp, according to those same media reports.

Ashley Burke, DynCorp spokeswoman, issued the following statement Tuesday afternoon: “As you know DynCorp International suffered a number of casualties in the attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, earlier today. Right now our focus is on our personnel and their families, and we are not able to release any additional details at this time.”

Eaton Police Chief Chad DePew said Muncy’s family was notified of the death on Tuesday morning.

DePew said Muncy worked for the police department from April 1995 through Sept. 30, 2001, then joined Preble County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy.

Sheriff Mike Simpson said Muncy was with his office until 2009, when he “was part of a group that was laid off as part of the sheriff’s budget cuts.”

Muncy opted for a voluntary layoff, Simpson said, so another less senior person who had a family could keep a job. Muncy would have been able to bump back onto the force in the jail or with dispatch, the sheriff said.

“It says a lot for somebody that will give up their job for a fellow co-worker, especially somebody with a family,” Simpson said.

From there, Muncy joined the DOD-contracted program.

According to a posting on his LinkedIn page, Muncy identified himself as an “CIVPOL international police advisor [sic], personal security and security management government contracts USA.”

Muncy, on his site page, said he began work as an adviser in January 2009.

His job duties were described this way, to “provide expert training and advice on matters pertaining to law enforcement operations, logistics, personnel, training and finance.” The police adviser “shall provide analysis and recommended courses of action including, but not limited to community based policing, police training, equipment and manpower.”

According to Simpson, Muncy had been home in Eaton in the last couple of weeks. He was home to help his parents celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. His leave from DynCorp ended not too long after the anniversary party. Muncy is survived by a host of friends and family, including a brother, Miamisburg police Sgt. Jeff Muncy.

“Eaton is a small place,” Simpson said. “Everybody knows everybody, especially if you’ve served as a police officer. Our thanks are to Kurt for his service, not only to the local community, but to the nation as a whole. Our condolences go out to his family.”

— Staff Writer Kelli Wynn and News Center 7 Reporter Layron Livingston contributed to this story.

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