Two Beaumont police officers indicted Thursday on charges they improperly beat and Tasered a man during a routine traffic stop have been placed on administrative leave until the case is resolved, department officials said.
Officers David Todd Burke and James Cody Guedry were indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury on misdemeanor charges of official oppression in the Aug. 24, 2007, arrest of Beaumont resident Derrick Newman.
The charges carry punishment of as much as a year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000.
The officers, who were not available for comment Thursday, will be paid while they are on administrative leave.
Attorney Mitch Adams of the Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas said his group will represent the officers.
The indictments disappointed the officers, Adams said.
Newman said the officers not only should receive the maximum punishment, but no longer should be allowed to continue their careers in law enforcement.
"The actions that the police officers made wasn't right. Their actions were unnecessary and uncalled for," Newman said Thursday after learning of the indictments.
"I feel vindicated now that the grand jury felt that I was right. They believed me," Newman said.
1 comment:
Paid administrative leave, again. I'm beginning to think these people are deliberately gunning for that. Work six months to get off of the probationary period, and then start doing "little" stuff that won't get you fired, but will get you an almost unlimited amount of paid vacation, something most people have to work decades to earn.... WITHOUT being a screwup in the meantime, if it's offered at all.
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