The city's acting police chief is seeking the firing of a sergeant he accuses of lying and inappropriate conduct, including trying to date a suspect under investigation.
Sgt. Cher Sneider, while off duty, had an on-duty patrol officer on May 10, 2008, tap into a secure police database to get Sneider the phone number of a man who was under investigation by the department, according to administrative charges filed against her.
Sneider thought the man was "hot" and wanted to call him so she could go out with him, the charging document says.
The man, identified only as John Doe in the document, was a city resident with a known criminal history with the department. At the time, city police were investigating him and his residence on suspicion of illegal activity, including illegal drugs, the charging document states.
Sneider made four calls with her personal cell phone to the man's residence on May 10, 2008, one call the following day and two calls on May 17, 2008, the document says. She also stopped at his home May 11, but he wasn't there, the document states.
During the investigation into Sneider, she denied that she requested the man's number from the patrol officer, that she attempted to contact him and that she had a personal interest in him, the document says. Sneider has been on paid administrative leave since November.
Police Department rules require that officers engage in professional conduct, refrain from associating with people of questionable character, use city resources only for work and "speak the truth at all times."
Acting Chief Daniel Meister is asking the city's Police and Fire Commission to dismiss Sneider.
Meister says in the statement of charges that because of the pending case and Sneider's past discipline, she can "no longer testify credibly or function effectively as a law enforcement officer" in the city.
Sneider's attorney, Jennifer Dorow, said Monday that the charges are without merit and that Sneider will fight the allegations.
Sneider denies trying to have a relationship with John Doe, Dorow said. The attorney said Sneider did have contact with the man, but only in an official capacity related to a noise complaint.
"When all is said and done, you have an officer with a history of exceptional service. Seeking to fire her is ridiculous," Dorow said, noting that Sneider in the past had received a bravery medal from the department for helping to rescue a person at a fire scene.
Sneider, according to the charging document, has been disciplined four times in the past, including a one-day suspension in July 2005 for unprofessional conduct and untruthfulness. She twice received oral counseling and once received a written reprimand.
Sneider has been an officer with the department since January 2000 and was promoted to sergeant in November 2006.
The Sneider charges are the latest controversy involving the city Police Department.
Chief Gary Bach, who had been under fire, agreed to resign from the department effective Dec. 31, in exchange for a $170,000 payout. He had been on paid leave since July 23 when the city launched an investigation into him.
In a John Doe investigation started at Bach's request last fall, Sneider testified that a conspiracy existed within the Police Department to get Bach fired.
In February, Meister said Sneider's leave had nothing to do with her allegiance to Bach.
No comments:
Post a Comment