Monday, September 14, 2009

Cpl Brett Browand & Officer Chris Prongratz Accused of Sexual Misconduct

Two Auburn police officers, each with more than a dozen years of experience, could lose their jobs after allegations surfaced that they had sexual contact on duty with the same 18-year-old woman.

Auburn police Chief Martin McCoy asked the city’s board of works Thursday to fire Cpl. Brett Browand and Officer Chris Pongratz because of the allegations against them.

Both officers have asked for formal hearings to plead their cases in front of the board.

McCoy said a police department employee reported the allegations Sept. 1. The officers were suspended with pay Tuesday after an investigation.

Browand, who is a second-shift supervisor with 15 years on the force, is accused of having sexual contact with the woman on city property. Pongratz, a third-shift patrol officer who was hired 12 1/2 years ago, allegedly had sexual contact with the woman in his squad car in the parking lot of a local business.

McCoy would not say how many times the officers had sexual contact with the woman, though it occurred in May and June while they were on duty and in uniform, according to disciplinary forms.

The woman was not a crime suspect, McCoy said, but he would not elaborate on how the officers met her. The chief also declined to say where the alleged sexual contact took place.

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