Four Officers Prank Goes Wrong, One Officer Arrested

GRETNA, La.

A Gretna police officer is under arrest and three others have been fired over what the police chief said was "a practical joke that went way too far."

Chief Arthur Lawson said the incident stems from a prank at a bar in December.

The four officers allegedly took part in a prank to hide someone’s motorcycle. Investigators said that the motorcycle was reported stolen after it was hidden, and Officer Gustavo Rivera, as well as the other three officers, denied any knowledge of the event.

Surveillance footage from the bar proves otherwise, investigators said.

"I guess the practical joke got out of hand and turned into criminal activity," Lawson. "Not only was the officer knowledgeable, but he knew the individual on the motorcycle."

The investigation is being handled by Gretna police and the Westbank Major Crimes Task Force.

"As I said in a recent interview, ‘Yes, it's a sad day, but something that I’m proud of. No one else has to arrest our officers we arrest our own,’" Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand said.

The motorcycle has since been recovered.

"I think it sends a message that this type of criminal activity will not be tolerated," Lawson said.

The chief said that if the officers had just owned up to the prank, the proceedings never would have arrived at this point.

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Video: http://www.wdsu.com/video/18763047/index.html

More Information: http://www.wdsu.com/video/18763047/index.html

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I almost have to disagree on this one. It was just a PRANK that went too far. I don't think they need to lose their job because of this or be arrested. As long as it was between friends they need to apologize and move on.
I've done something similar to this with a friends car several years ago as a prank. We (other friends) laughed our ass off until an officer pulled up and our friend quickly went to tell the officer that his van just got stolen. I had to quickly rush to the scene and stop the proceedings before it became worse. The officer was pissed when I told him it was just a prank, but we quickly went on our way without a charge.
Damn...what's the world coming too when I'm on their side?...lol.

Two Highway Patrol Troopers Fired Have been Reinstated?

COLUMBUS, OHIO

Two Ohio Highway Patrol troopers fired for taking part in a KKK-type costume prank have been ordered reinstated to their jobs.

An arbitrator ruled Tuesday that the May 2 firing violated the union's contract with the state.

The Ohio State Troopers Association had fought the dismissal of Craig Franklin and Eric Wlodarsky of the Sandusky post.

Franklin and Wlodarsky are to be reinstated with back pay and benefits, and the state cannot appeal the ruling.

Gov. Ted Strickland had asked that the men be fired after a patrol investigation found that on the day before Martin Luther King Day in January, Franklin put on a white cone, mask and cloth, and Wlodarsky took a photo with his cell phone and sent it to a colleague.

Strickland's spokesman said Wednesday that the governor is disappointed by the ruling but the administration will comply with it.

More Information:

http://www.nbc24.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=120486

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WTF??? I don't know if they should lose their jobs, but they do need some serious discipline.

Officer Steven Boyle Didn't Enter Plea

A former Amboy and Vernon Center police officer didn’t enter a plea during his first court appearance Friday for a gross misdemeanor charge of misconduct of a public official.

Steven Patrick Boyle, 23, of Austin is accused of pulling a prank where he faked the arrest of an 18-year-old woman, then having her flash her breasts to avoid arrest. Other friends of the woman were allegedly in on the prank.

Boyle resigned from his position as a part-time police officer with the Amboy and Vernon Center department Friday.