A Springettsbury Township police officer, charged with being drunk on duty, can be seen on his own patrol car's video camera weaving on and off the road before sideswiping a wall in the early morning hours of Aug. 23.
Gary D.S. Utter, 37, of the first block of North Sycamore Lane, Stewartstown, now faces driving under the influence charges after an investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police.
After the crash, Utter can be seen on the video inspecting the damage of a marked white 2005 Crown Victoria patrol car at a business parking lot and later at police headquarters, less than a mile from the accident scene in the 2000 block of Mount Zion Road, according to court records.
In listening to what happened, Utter's shift commander Cpl. David Kennedy detected a "strong odor" of alcohol, according to court records.
After consulting with his supervisors, Kennedy took Utter to Memorial Hospital where a blood test determined Utter had a .123 percent blood-alcohol content. The legal limit in Pennsylvania is .08 percent.
Kennedy asked Utter how much the officer had had to drink prior to starting his morning shift.
"Not much," Utter replied, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by state police Cpl. Rob Feiser.
Feiser determined that Utter smashed into a stone wall on a straight stretch of road, according to court records.
Utter will be notified of the charges by mail, according to a district court spokesperson. His preliminary hearing date is set for 10 a.m. Oct. 29.
Utter could not be reached for comment Monday.
If convicted of DUI, a misdemeanor, Utter could lose his ability to serve as an police officer.
In July 2007, Utter, a seven-year police veteran at Springettsbury, was involved in a fatal shooting of a prisoner in custody. He was cleared in October 2007 by York County District Attorney Stan Rebert, who ruled Utter used justifiable force after he was attacked by Ronald T. Whitaker Jr.
While being held for robbing a grocery store, Whitaker tried to hang himself with his shoelaces, according to the district attorney's office. Utter found Whitaker and revived him, but Whitaker then became violent, officials said.
Utter used a Taser on Whitaker, but it worked only momentarily, police said.
The fight spilled into a hallway, where Whitaker backed Utter into a corner, had his nightstick and was trying to grab his gun, Springettsbury Township Police Chief David Eshbach said.
Utter fired twice.
Whitaker's family has filed a wrongful death civil suit against the police department, Eshbach, Utter and Springettsbury Township.
Rebert and Eshbach asked state police to investigate the Aug. 23 crash into the stone wall.
Eshbach declined comment, saying it was a personnel matter.
Springettsbury Lt. Scott Laird referred all questions to township manager John Holman. Holman was out of the office Monday.
Click here for the affadavit.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Officer Matthew Brown Charged with Battery
ALBANY, GA
An Albany police officer was arrested early Saturday, accused of pushing his ex-girlfriend during an argument, police officials said.
Officer Matthew Brown, 24, called police after a woman he described as his ex-girlfriend refused to leave his Pinson Road apartment.
According to APD Spokesperson Phyllis Banks, Brown and Armanda Jones got into a verbal altercation. During the argument, Jones grabbed Brown’s cell phone and wouldn’t give it back and Jones says that Brown pushed her.
“She told officers that during the argument he pushed her,” Banks said. “And officers charged him with simple battery.”
Brown was taken to the Dougherty County Jail where he was booked on the misdemeanor charge. He is scheduled for arraignment this morning, jail officials say.
Jones, who was not arrested Saturday morning, is being investigated for a possible criminal trespass charge, Banks said.
In addition, an internal affairs investigation has been launched to determine if Brown’s conduct may have put him on the wrong side of Chief James Younger and the City of Albany, Banks said.
“That investigation will determine whether he violated any of the department’s policies and procedures and will be used by Chief Younger to determine what, if any, disciplinary measures are taken,” Banks said.
Brown, who has been with the department for two years, is assigned to the uniform division.
Banks said that Brown will NOT be reassigned pending the internal affairs investigation.
http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=9005172
An Albany police officer was arrested early Saturday, accused of pushing his ex-girlfriend during an argument, police officials said.
Officer Matthew Brown, 24, called police after a woman he described as his ex-girlfriend refused to leave his Pinson Road apartment.
According to APD Spokesperson Phyllis Banks, Brown and Armanda Jones got into a verbal altercation. During the argument, Jones grabbed Brown’s cell phone and wouldn’t give it back and Jones says that Brown pushed her.
“She told officers that during the argument he pushed her,” Banks said. “And officers charged him with simple battery.”
Brown was taken to the Dougherty County Jail where he was booked on the misdemeanor charge. He is scheduled for arraignment this morning, jail officials say.
Jones, who was not arrested Saturday morning, is being investigated for a possible criminal trespass charge, Banks said.
In addition, an internal affairs investigation has been launched to determine if Brown’s conduct may have put him on the wrong side of Chief James Younger and the City of Albany, Banks said.
“That investigation will determine whether he violated any of the department’s policies and procedures and will be used by Chief Younger to determine what, if any, disciplinary measures are taken,” Banks said.
Brown, who has been with the department for two years, is assigned to the uniform division.
Banks said that Brown will NOT be reassigned pending the internal affairs investigation.
http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=9005172
Sgt. David Romeo Charged with Kicking Suspect Pleads Not Guilty
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE
A suspended Wildwood police officer accused of kicking two handcuffed suspects in the head last year pleaded innocent Friday morning in Superior Court to a charge of official misconduct.
Sgt. David Romeo, 37, was suspended without pay Aug. 24, 2007, following an internal police investigation of his conduct July 24, 2007.
Officers at the scene reported the alleged use of excessive force, prompting the internal-affairs investigation with the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office.
Romeo's lawyer, John Tumelty, told Superior Court Judge Raymond Batten that he is asking for information about a knife secured from the scene but not included in police reports.
Tumelty did not indicate the significance of the knife.
He also said he is seeking expert witnesses and awaiting a copy of a grand jury transcript.
Friday was Romeo's first court appearance after his indictment in August.
In 2007, two suspects, Louis McCullough, 28, and Gilbert Haege, 28, of Wildwood Crest, were arrested following a surveillance operation led by detectives and a bicycle patrol unit, according to police reports.
Police observed McCullough and Haege burglarizing a car in a parking lot.
The two suspects had resisted arrest, injuring Officer Ed Ramsey.
Romeo was not the arresting officer that night and was not present during the scuffle in which Ramsey was injured.
First Assistant Prosecutor J. David Meyer has said that by the time Romeo arrived on the scene, the two men were already apprehended and lying on the ground in handcuffs waiting to be transported.
The two men were lying on the ground on their stomachs when Romeo kicked them, Meyer has said. Neither suffered serious injuries.
Romeo, 36, was charged by the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office with official misconduct, a second-degree crime, and two counts of simple assault, a disorderly persons offense.
Wildwood hired Romeo in 1994. He earned $74,000 per year as a police sergeant, not including longevity payments.
A suspended Wildwood police officer accused of kicking two handcuffed suspects in the head last year pleaded innocent Friday morning in Superior Court to a charge of official misconduct.
Sgt. David Romeo, 37, was suspended without pay Aug. 24, 2007, following an internal police investigation of his conduct July 24, 2007.
Officers at the scene reported the alleged use of excessive force, prompting the internal-affairs investigation with the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office.
Romeo's lawyer, John Tumelty, told Superior Court Judge Raymond Batten that he is asking for information about a knife secured from the scene but not included in police reports.
Tumelty did not indicate the significance of the knife.
He also said he is seeking expert witnesses and awaiting a copy of a grand jury transcript.
Friday was Romeo's first court appearance after his indictment in August.
In 2007, two suspects, Louis McCullough, 28, and Gilbert Haege, 28, of Wildwood Crest, were arrested following a surveillance operation led by detectives and a bicycle patrol unit, according to police reports.
Police observed McCullough and Haege burglarizing a car in a parking lot.
The two suspects had resisted arrest, injuring Officer Ed Ramsey.
Romeo was not the arresting officer that night and was not present during the scuffle in which Ramsey was injured.
First Assistant Prosecutor J. David Meyer has said that by the time Romeo arrived on the scene, the two men were already apprehended and lying on the ground in handcuffs waiting to be transported.
The two men were lying on the ground on their stomachs when Romeo kicked them, Meyer has said. Neither suffered serious injuries.
Romeo, 36, was charged by the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office with official misconduct, a second-degree crime, and two counts of simple assault, a disorderly persons offense.
Wildwood hired Romeo in 1994. He earned $74,000 per year as a police sergeant, not including longevity payments.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Officer Scott Lanner Arrested for Meancing and False Imprisonment
COLORADO SPRINGS
An employee of Colorado Springs Police has been arrested Friday for what police say stems from an off duty incident in Widefield on August 6th.
Police say 46-year-old Scott Alan Lanner drew his pistol on a man who was inspecting roofs for hail damage. Lanner was booked into the county jail on suspicion of menacing, a felony, and false imprisonment, a misdemeanor, according to jail records.
The report says Lanner came across Patrick Wilson, an employee of Claims Specialist International, working in his neighborhood. He ordered Wilson to leave the neighborhood because he did not have a permit althought they are not required for the work, the affidavit said. Lanner than drew his weapon on Wilson after he dropped his hands to his lap. Wilson was handcuffed and searched.
Colorado Springs Police say they will remain neutral as the charge plays through the judicial system. Lanner, who has worked for the CSPD since April of 1995, has been placed on un-paid administrative leave by the department until the case is resolved.
Police are planning an internal investigation into the matter after the judicial proceedings.
http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/28318759.html
SWAT Officer Robert Booth Kicks Handcuffed Suspect Maybe Charged
SPOKANE, Wash.
Investigators believe a Spokane police officer who has been accused of kicking a handcuffed man in the face should be charged with a misdemeanor.
According to a police investigation release late Friday, detectives are recommending a fourth-degree assault charge against 37-year-old Officer Robert M. Booth. He has been on the force since 1994 and is a member of the city's SWAT team.
Booth has denied accusations that he kicked 22-year-old John Luna on Sept. 5 after he pursued and captured Luna for investigation of car theft. Three other officers, however, told investigators they saw the officer kick Luna while he lay handcuffed on the ground. One says he heard Boothe tell Luna, "You're lucky that's all you got."
---
Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesmanreview.com
Investigators believe a Spokane police officer who has been accused of kicking a handcuffed man in the face should be charged with a misdemeanor.
According to a police investigation release late Friday, detectives are recommending a fourth-degree assault charge against 37-year-old Officer Robert M. Booth. He has been on the force since 1994 and is a member of the city's SWAT team.
Booth has denied accusations that he kicked 22-year-old John Luna on Sept. 5 after he pursued and captured Luna for investigation of car theft. Three other officers, however, told investigators they saw the officer kick Luna while he lay handcuffed on the ground. One says he heard Boothe tell Luna, "You're lucky that's all you got."
---
Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesmanreview.com
Officer Rick Johnson Charged With Sexual Abuse is Fired
Altoona City Council fires a police officer charged with sexual abuse.
It happened at Wednesday night’s city council meeting.
Everyone there voted to fire Rick Johnson. Erik Cagle was the only council member not at the meeting.
Johnson is accused of having sex with a sixteen year old girl back in July.
According to the criminal complaint he picked the girl up in Indiana and took her to an Ohio motel to have sex. Then he brought her back to his house in Altoona. The two met on a police mentor website called policelink.com.
Johnson was originally suspended from the force.
He waived his preliminary hearing on September 8th. He’ll face charges of endangering the welfare of a child and corruption of a minor. At this point there's no word yet on a trial date.
When the case does go to trial the State Attorney General’s office will be prosecuting.
The Blair County District Attorney asked the state to step in so there would be no conflict of interest.
There’s still no word on whether or not Johnson will get his pension. That decision is up to the police pension board.
No one at city hall would comment on either the pension issue or his firing in general.
It happened at Wednesday night’s city council meeting.
Everyone there voted to fire Rick Johnson. Erik Cagle was the only council member not at the meeting.
Johnson is accused of having sex with a sixteen year old girl back in July.
According to the criminal complaint he picked the girl up in Indiana and took her to an Ohio motel to have sex. Then he brought her back to his house in Altoona. The two met on a police mentor website called policelink.com.
Johnson was originally suspended from the force.
He waived his preliminary hearing on September 8th. He’ll face charges of endangering the welfare of a child and corruption of a minor. At this point there's no word yet on a trial date.
When the case does go to trial the State Attorney General’s office will be prosecuting.
The Blair County District Attorney asked the state to step in so there would be no conflict of interest.
There’s still no word on whether or not Johnson will get his pension. That decision is up to the police pension board.
No one at city hall would comment on either the pension issue or his firing in general.
District Attorney Reviewing Evidence of Officer Cover Up
Santa Clara County District Attorney Dolores Carr is now reviewing evidence of whether a pair of San Jose police officers tried to cover up the drunken driving of a former cop, the Mercury News has learned.
Carr will determine if the two officers broke a law and should be charged with a crime.
The county's top prosecutor can decide to charge them, decline to charge or present the case to a grand jury to let it decide if charges are warranted. A decision may not come soon.
The office may wait until a pending drunk-driving charge being prosecuted by the state Attorney General's office against Sandra Woodall is complete, according to Assistant District Attorney David Tomkins, who is reviewing the case.
Woodall, a former San Jose police officer who now works as an investigator with the District Attorney's office, is charged with drunkenly smashing her Cadillac Escalade into two cars, causing minor injuries. The officers being investigated may be looking at criminal conspiracy or other charges because reports seem to show that they overlooked plentiful of evidence that Woodall was highly intoxicated. They did not test her blood alcohol level or even ask her whether she had been drinking.
No matter what Carr's decision, many will be watching closely to see how she handles the controversial case. The suspect in the DUI is her own employee. And Carr has been targeted by some critics who suspect that she is too close to the police department — something she strongly denies. Her husband and stepson are officers.
Tomkins said: " I routinely review allegations of criminal wrong-doing of police officers. I don't see this as being any different.'' The office has two pending felony cases against officers, including one - ironically — against Woodall's husband, who is charged with time sheet fraud.
Many in and out of law enforcement said Thursday that they thought Carr's office would fairly evaluate the case.
"I'm very confident we've done a thorough, professional and objective investigation," Assistant Police Chief Dan Katz said. "And we have full confidence the District Attorney's office in their review of the case.''
It was the police department brass that launched the criminal probe of their own officers, assigning two veteran investigators to gather evidence.
San Jose's Independent Police Auditor Police Barbara Attard said: "I have confidence the District Attorney will make the right decision to ensure public confidence in the criminal justice system and its fair application to persons regardless of their status or employment.''
The two officers at the heart of the controversial case — Sgt. Will Manion and Officer Patrick D'Arrigo — are on paid administrative leaves.
Attorney Craig Brown, who is representing the officers, said they are "good, honorable well- respected officers who absolutely would not have put themselves, their families and their careers at risk to cover up a suspected DUI for a former police officer.''
Brown emphasized the word "former" and added that neither officer were friends or even close with either Woodall or her husband.
The investigation stems from a multi-vehicle accident on March 25. Woodall hit two cars on Branham Lane and Pearl Avenue, police said. Woodall told medical responders she was just out of rehab, had consumed alcohol earlier in the evening and was so disoriented that she didn't know what year it was, according to reports and witnesses.
Both the paramedic and the EMT on the scene who treated Woodall noted the strong smell of alcohol on her breath. One reported that he told the officers that Woodall was drunk, something Brown said the officers "bitterly" dispute.
But neither Manion — the police supervisor on the scene — nor any of the other officers noted these things. And at one point, Manion seemed to the medical workers to be coaching Woodall to answer their questions, according to a police report. He later tried to prevent them from bringing her to a hospital, they alleged.
Brown said: "There are reasons to question the veracity and credibility at least one — if not both — of the paramedics."
Backed up by some other officers at the scene, Manion's account was that he had no evidence at the time that Woodall was drunk and he was trying to determine whether she could be brought to a hospital against her will. Some officers concluded that the collision could have been caused because Woodall was eating egg rolls from Jack in the Box while she was driving.
D'Arrigo, also at the crash scene, allegedly told the mother of one of the victims that too much time had passed to give Woodall a blood test. The woman thought she had spoken to the officer less than two hours after the accident.
The investigation into the case didn't proceed until after a resident complained to police commanders that no charges had been filed even though there was evidence Woodall was drunk. Carr then referred the case to the California Attorney General's Office.
That office filed felony drunken-driving charges against Woodall in early July. Woodall has pleaded not guilty. Her next scheduled court date is later this month.
http://www.pr.com/press-release/
Carr will determine if the two officers broke a law and should be charged with a crime.
The county's top prosecutor can decide to charge them, decline to charge or present the case to a grand jury to let it decide if charges are warranted. A decision may not come soon.
The office may wait until a pending drunk-driving charge being prosecuted by the state Attorney General's office against Sandra Woodall is complete, according to Assistant District Attorney David Tomkins, who is reviewing the case.
Woodall, a former San Jose police officer who now works as an investigator with the District Attorney's office, is charged with drunkenly smashing her Cadillac Escalade into two cars, causing minor injuries. The officers being investigated may be looking at criminal conspiracy or other charges because reports seem to show that they overlooked plentiful of evidence that Woodall was highly intoxicated. They did not test her blood alcohol level or even ask her whether she had been drinking.
No matter what Carr's decision, many will be watching closely to see how she handles the controversial case. The suspect in the DUI is her own employee. And Carr has been targeted by some critics who suspect that she is too close to the police department — something she strongly denies. Her husband and stepson are officers.
Tomkins said: " I routinely review allegations of criminal wrong-doing of police officers. I don't see this as being any different.'' The office has two pending felony cases against officers, including one - ironically — against Woodall's husband, who is charged with time sheet fraud.
Many in and out of law enforcement said Thursday that they thought Carr's office would fairly evaluate the case.
"I'm very confident we've done a thorough, professional and objective investigation," Assistant Police Chief Dan Katz said. "And we have full confidence the District Attorney's office in their review of the case.''
It was the police department brass that launched the criminal probe of their own officers, assigning two veteran investigators to gather evidence.
San Jose's Independent Police Auditor Police Barbara Attard said: "I have confidence the District Attorney will make the right decision to ensure public confidence in the criminal justice system and its fair application to persons regardless of their status or employment.''
The two officers at the heart of the controversial case — Sgt. Will Manion and Officer Patrick D'Arrigo — are on paid administrative leaves.
Attorney Craig Brown, who is representing the officers, said they are "good, honorable well- respected officers who absolutely would not have put themselves, their families and their careers at risk to cover up a suspected DUI for a former police officer.''
Brown emphasized the word "former" and added that neither officer were friends or even close with either Woodall or her husband.
The investigation stems from a multi-vehicle accident on March 25. Woodall hit two cars on Branham Lane and Pearl Avenue, police said. Woodall told medical responders she was just out of rehab, had consumed alcohol earlier in the evening and was so disoriented that she didn't know what year it was, according to reports and witnesses.
Both the paramedic and the EMT on the scene who treated Woodall noted the strong smell of alcohol on her breath. One reported that he told the officers that Woodall was drunk, something Brown said the officers "bitterly" dispute.
But neither Manion — the police supervisor on the scene — nor any of the other officers noted these things. And at one point, Manion seemed to the medical workers to be coaching Woodall to answer their questions, according to a police report. He later tried to prevent them from bringing her to a hospital, they alleged.
Brown said: "There are reasons to question the veracity and credibility at least one — if not both — of the paramedics."
Backed up by some other officers at the scene, Manion's account was that he had no evidence at the time that Woodall was drunk and he was trying to determine whether she could be brought to a hospital against her will. Some officers concluded that the collision could have been caused because Woodall was eating egg rolls from Jack in the Box while she was driving.
D'Arrigo, also at the crash scene, allegedly told the mother of one of the victims that too much time had passed to give Woodall a blood test. The woman thought she had spoken to the officer less than two hours after the accident.
The investigation into the case didn't proceed until after a resident complained to police commanders that no charges had been filed even though there was evidence Woodall was drunk. Carr then referred the case to the California Attorney General's Office.
That office filed felony drunken-driving charges against Woodall in early July. Woodall has pleaded not guilty. Her next scheduled court date is later this month.
http://www.pr.com/press-release/
Friday, September 12, 2008
Officer Bolitada Theodore Arrested for Helping Woman to Escape
Solomon Islands
A police officer, Mr. Bolitada Theodore, 46, was arrested at Avu Avu this week for Obstructing the Justice as according to a section of the penal code.
Acting Commissioner, Mr. Peter Marshall stated in yesterday's Police Press Conference that the SIPF and the PPF are carrying out their duty with fairness and without favor.
Mr. Marshall said that the officer was arrested for assisting the escape of the wife of Mr. Alphonseus Toghovotu, the Weathercoast murder suspect.
He continued on saying that the wife was wanted for an interview by the police following the investigation of the attempted murder of the RAMSI police officer at Weathercoast last week.
Police officers were out looking for the wife, when she was warned by the Police officer from Avu Avu.
Mr. Bolitada Theodore appeared before the Magistrate Courts in Honiara yesterday after been remanded in custody at the Central Police Station.
The court case was adjourned for 28 days and the next hearing will be on the 10th of October, 2008.
In the meantime he was to be kept 50 kilometers away from Avu Avu and report to the White River Police Post every Mondays and Fridays. He was also granted a principle bail of $1,000.
Mr. Bolitada Theodore was a long serving officer for the SIPF and only recently moved to the Avu Avu Police Post in 2003.
A police officer, Mr. Bolitada Theodore, 46, was arrested at Avu Avu this week for Obstructing the Justice as according to a section of the penal code.
Acting Commissioner, Mr. Peter Marshall stated in yesterday's Police Press Conference that the SIPF and the PPF are carrying out their duty with fairness and without favor.
Mr. Marshall said that the officer was arrested for assisting the escape of the wife of Mr. Alphonseus Toghovotu, the Weathercoast murder suspect.
He continued on saying that the wife was wanted for an interview by the police following the investigation of the attempted murder of the RAMSI police officer at Weathercoast last week.
Police officers were out looking for the wife, when she was warned by the Police officer from Avu Avu.
Mr. Bolitada Theodore appeared before the Magistrate Courts in Honiara yesterday after been remanded in custody at the Central Police Station.
The court case was adjourned for 28 days and the next hearing will be on the 10th of October, 2008.
In the meantime he was to be kept 50 kilometers away from Avu Avu and report to the White River Police Post every Mondays and Fridays. He was also granted a principle bail of $1,000.
Mr. Bolitada Theodore was a long serving officer for the SIPF and only recently moved to the Avu Avu Police Post in 2003.
Officer Chad Broder Suspended Without Pay
An Erie police officer was arrested and jailed Wednesday in Weld County on suspicion of attempting to sexually assault an 18-year-old woman he had arrested, according to police and court reports.
Chad Broder, 25, was arrested on suspicion of attempted sexual assault on a victim in custody and sexual contact with a victim in custody, according to court records. He is scheduled to appear in Weld District Court today.
“The officer has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of our investigation and the investigation of the Greeley Police Department,” Erie Police Chief John Hall said, adding that he could not comment on Greeley’s open investigation.
Greeley police detectives arrested Broder at his Frederick home Wednesday after investigating the Aug. 31 incident since Sept. 3, Greeley police spokesman Sgt. Joe Tymkowich said.
He said Broder arrested the woman Aug. 31 on suspicion of violating a restraining order. The woman told police that Broder was driving her to the Weld County Jail, allowing her to ride in the front seat, when he stopped his marked patrol car in Greeley and kissed her, released one of her hands from the handcuffs and placed her hand on his crotch, Tymkowich said.
“She was able to protect herself, as it were, and she (told him she) wasn’t interest in doing that,” Tymkowich said.
Broder then took the woman to the jail and booked her, Tymkowich said.
When she bonded out the following day, she told a friend what had happened, and the friend talked with a Longmont police officer, who recommended that she report the incident to Greeley police, according to Tymkowich.
“From personal experience ... you pursue it just as you would any other case,” he said of investigating allegations against a fellow law enforcement officer. “We’ve got to police our own just as you would anyone else.”
Broder was sworn in as an officer with the Erie Police Department in June 2006 and has worked as a patrol officer since then.
Chad Broder, 25, was arrested on suspicion of attempted sexual assault on a victim in custody and sexual contact with a victim in custody, according to court records. He is scheduled to appear in Weld District Court today.
“The officer has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of our investigation and the investigation of the Greeley Police Department,” Erie Police Chief John Hall said, adding that he could not comment on Greeley’s open investigation.
Greeley police detectives arrested Broder at his Frederick home Wednesday after investigating the Aug. 31 incident since Sept. 3, Greeley police spokesman Sgt. Joe Tymkowich said.
He said Broder arrested the woman Aug. 31 on suspicion of violating a restraining order. The woman told police that Broder was driving her to the Weld County Jail, allowing her to ride in the front seat, when he stopped his marked patrol car in Greeley and kissed her, released one of her hands from the handcuffs and placed her hand on his crotch, Tymkowich said.
“She was able to protect herself, as it were, and she (told him she) wasn’t interest in doing that,” Tymkowich said.
Broder then took the woman to the jail and booked her, Tymkowich said.
When she bonded out the following day, she told a friend what had happened, and the friend talked with a Longmont police officer, who recommended that she report the incident to Greeley police, according to Tymkowich.
“From personal experience ... you pursue it just as you would any other case,” he said of investigating allegations against a fellow law enforcement officer. “We’ve got to police our own just as you would anyone else.”
Broder was sworn in as an officer with the Erie Police Department in June 2006 and has worked as a patrol officer since then.
Officer Laura Donovan Arrested on Drug Charges
WATERBURY, Conn.
A member of the Waterbury police department was arrested Wednesday, accused of arranging to buy illegally prescribed pain pills.
Laura Donovan, 40, of Waterbury, surrendered at police headquarters the day after police arrested a man they said illegally bought OxyContin and Percocet for her.
Donovan, a 10-year-member of the force, was charged with criminal attempt to possess narcotics in connection with illegal drug buys on Tuesday and Saturday, police said.
Members of the police department were watching Tuesday as John Soricelli, 34, of Waterbury, pulled into a Huntington Avenue parking lot to buy drugs from Domenic George, 57, of Waterbury, police said.
Both men were arrested, then police saw Donovan’s personal car drive by the parking lot, police said. She was not on duty or in uniform, police said.
After being arrested, Soricelli told police he was buying pills for Donovan, police said.
Soricelli also bought OxyContin for Donovan in another location on Saturday, police said.
Donovan was arrested Wednesday. She was suspended from the force with pay, pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation, police said.
Donovan was released and is scheduled to appear in court next week.
A member of the Waterbury police department was arrested Wednesday, accused of arranging to buy illegally prescribed pain pills.
Laura Donovan, 40, of Waterbury, surrendered at police headquarters the day after police arrested a man they said illegally bought OxyContin and Percocet for her.
Donovan, a 10-year-member of the force, was charged with criminal attempt to possess narcotics in connection with illegal drug buys on Tuesday and Saturday, police said.
Members of the police department were watching Tuesday as John Soricelli, 34, of Waterbury, pulled into a Huntington Avenue parking lot to buy drugs from Domenic George, 57, of Waterbury, police said.
Both men were arrested, then police saw Donovan’s personal car drive by the parking lot, police said. She was not on duty or in uniform, police said.
After being arrested, Soricelli told police he was buying pills for Donovan, police said.
Soricelli also bought OxyContin for Donovan in another location on Saturday, police said.
Donovan was arrested Wednesday. She was suspended from the force with pay, pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation, police said.
Donovan was released and is scheduled to appear in court next week.
Former Employee of Sheriff's Office Pleads Guilty to Rape of Child
MEMPHIS, TN
A former Shelby County Sheriff’s Office employee pleaded guilty to charges of Rape and Rape of a Child.
According to court documents, 60 year-old Wayne Logan has been sentenced to six years in prison for rape and eight years for raping a child after pleading guilty, Thursday, September 11, 2008.
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office says Crawford had sex with an 8 year-old girl several times over a two year period. Investigators say the girl’s mother knew about the rape and took money from Crawford. She was indicted on charges of Facilitation of Rape and Facilitation of Rape of a Child.
Police say the abuse was brought to the attention of authorities after the little girl told her teacher that Crawford was having sex with her.
Crawford worked as a civilian employee at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
Former Chief Paul Gill Convicted of Murder
EL DORADO, Ark.
A jury has convicted a former Fordyce police chief of first-degree murder in the shooting death of his wife.
The Union County jury recommended a 40-year prison sentence for Paul Douglas Gill. The jury deliberated for about four hours today before convicting Gill in the death of his wife, Sandra Kaye Gill.
Gill testified yesterday that he did not kill his wife, and witnesses said he wept and expressed grief after her death. Doug Gill had been charged with capital murder, though prosecutors did not seek the death penalty.
Sandra Kaye Gill was found in bed in March 2007 with a gunshot wound to her head.
Gill was a former police chief at Fordyce in the early 1990s and also a former deputy sheriff. At the time of the crime, he was a quality control inspector with Georgia Pacific in Fordyce.
Prosecutors allege that gunpowder residue from Gill's clothing showed he killed Sandra Gill as she lay in bed. They argue Gill tried to make his wife's death look like a suicide.
Former Officer Chancy Jones Arrested for Killing Mistress
The Memphis police officer accused of shooting and killing his mistress remained behind bars Thursday. After Chancy Jones first court appearance, his attorney said that he fears for his client's safety.
After appearing before a judge Thursday, Patrol Officer Chancy Jones spent the rest of the day sitting in jail without bond.
His attorney said Jones has a large target on his back because he's possibly with criminals he's arrested and he used to be a corrections officer inside the jail.
Jones walked into court wearing a green jail jumper. His sisters and daughter sat outside the courtroom waiting to be allowed in.
Jones' wife was not there.
After getting inside and seeing Jones, a few of them left the courtroom in tears and declined to speak on camera.
"I'm sure they're going through the same shock the family of the lady is," said Jones' attorney Ted Hansom. "It's a tragedy no matter how you look at it."
He said he hasn't had a chance to sit down and talk with his client, but he is aware Jones gave a written statement to police admitting to shooting and killing his mistress Phyllis Malone.
"I think it's easy to say he's upset," he said. "Other than that, I really couldn't comment."
Investigators said for the past few weeks, Jones was having an extramarital affair with Malone.
Early Tuesday morning, a delivery driver found a woman slumped over in a car outside a gas station on Whitten Road.
It was Malone. Authorities said she died from multiple gun shot wounds and police have confirmed that she was not pregnant.
Hansom said his client is being held in a secured location because of the publicity of the case and because his client is a Memphis police officer and a former Shelby County correctional officer.
"You have some people who are frequent fliers who come back here, that come back here when he was here," he said. "So yeah, security is a concern."
No one from Malone's family came to court.
Jones will have a bond hearing Monday. He's been charged with second degree murder. Police Director Larry Godwin said this was domestic violence taken to the extreme.
*********
I hope he get's his ass beat! He's no better than the people he put in jail.
He was nothing but a criminal with a badge.
After appearing before a judge Thursday, Patrol Officer Chancy Jones spent the rest of the day sitting in jail without bond.
His attorney said Jones has a large target on his back because he's possibly with criminals he's arrested and he used to be a corrections officer inside the jail.
Jones walked into court wearing a green jail jumper. His sisters and daughter sat outside the courtroom waiting to be allowed in.
Jones' wife was not there.
After getting inside and seeing Jones, a few of them left the courtroom in tears and declined to speak on camera.
"I'm sure they're going through the same shock the family of the lady is," said Jones' attorney Ted Hansom. "It's a tragedy no matter how you look at it."
He said he hasn't had a chance to sit down and talk with his client, but he is aware Jones gave a written statement to police admitting to shooting and killing his mistress Phyllis Malone.
"I think it's easy to say he's upset," he said. "Other than that, I really couldn't comment."
Investigators said for the past few weeks, Jones was having an extramarital affair with Malone.
Early Tuesday morning, a delivery driver found a woman slumped over in a car outside a gas station on Whitten Road.
It was Malone. Authorities said she died from multiple gun shot wounds and police have confirmed that she was not pregnant.
Hansom said his client is being held in a secured location because of the publicity of the case and because his client is a Memphis police officer and a former Shelby County correctional officer.
"You have some people who are frequent fliers who come back here, that come back here when he was here," he said. "So yeah, security is a concern."
No one from Malone's family came to court.
Jones will have a bond hearing Monday. He's been charged with second degree murder. Police Director Larry Godwin said this was domestic violence taken to the extreme.
*********
I hope he get's his ass beat! He's no better than the people he put in jail.
He was nothing but a criminal with a badge.
Sgt. James Pence Arrested for Domestic Violence
A Springfield police sergeant has been arrested and charged with domestic violence in Portage.
Sgt. James Pence, 37, was arrested after an incident in Portage Tuesday and arraigned Wednesday in Kalamazoo County, Springfield Public Safety Director Rob Coles confirmed. A spokesman for the Portage Police Department could not be reached Wednesday.
Coles, reached while on vacation and out of the city, said he was not aware of details of the incident, which apparently occurred at Spence's home.
A warrant is also being sought by Battle Creek police against Pence for stalking and making harassing phone calls to a former girlfriend in Battle Creek, according to Commander James Saylor of the Battle Creek Police Department.
Information on that incident at a home Pence once shared with the woman on Clubhouse Drive early Tuesday afternoon, is being reviewed by the Calhoun County Prosecutor, Saylor said.
Pence is already serving a 14-day suspension from the department for an unrelated off-duty incident, Coles said, and is scheduled to return to work Sept. 17.
Department officials are collecting information on the Tuesday incidents and will conduct their own department investigation, the chief said.
Sgt. James Pence, 37, was arrested after an incident in Portage Tuesday and arraigned Wednesday in Kalamazoo County, Springfield Public Safety Director Rob Coles confirmed. A spokesman for the Portage Police Department could not be reached Wednesday.
Coles, reached while on vacation and out of the city, said he was not aware of details of the incident, which apparently occurred at Spence's home.
A warrant is also being sought by Battle Creek police against Pence for stalking and making harassing phone calls to a former girlfriend in Battle Creek, according to Commander James Saylor of the Battle Creek Police Department.
Information on that incident at a home Pence once shared with the woman on Clubhouse Drive early Tuesday afternoon, is being reviewed by the Calhoun County Prosecutor, Saylor said.
Pence is already serving a 14-day suspension from the department for an unrelated off-duty incident, Coles said, and is scheduled to return to work Sept. 17.
Department officials are collecting information on the Tuesday incidents and will conduct their own department investigation, the chief said.
Officer Carlos Martin Charged with Giving False Information
A Richmond police officer has been placed on leave after he was charged in a false-information case.
The department said officer Carlos Martin was charged yesterday with two misdemeanor counts of false summons or giving false reports to law enforcement officials.
The department would not release details of the case other than to say the arrest grew from a citizen complaint and was being investigated by the department's office of professional responsibility in consultation with Richmond Commonwealth's Attorney Michael N. Herring.
Martin, 34 and a five-year member of the department, has been placed on leave without pay.
The department said officer Carlos Martin was charged yesterday with two misdemeanor counts of false summons or giving false reports to law enforcement officials.
The department would not release details of the case other than to say the arrest grew from a citizen complaint and was being investigated by the department's office of professional responsibility in consultation with Richmond Commonwealth's Attorney Michael N. Herring.
Martin, 34 and a five-year member of the department, has been placed on leave without pay.
Officer Juan Tapia Arrested by FBI and DEA
San Diego, California
United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced that Juan Hurtado Tapia, a uniformed officer of the San Diego Police Department, was arraigned in federal court in San Diego by United States Magistrate Judge Leo S. Papas on a criminal complaint charging him with misuse of his status as a law enforcement officer to obtain and pass sensitive information to associates who were involved in drug trafficking crimes.
Mr. Tapia was arrested by FBI and DEA agents on September 2, 2008.
The complaint alleges that during the course of a long-term drug trafficking investigation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the San Diego Police Department, investigating agents became aware in May 2008 that the targets of their investigation were in contact with Juan Hurtado Tapia, a patrol officer employed by the San Diego Police Department.
According to the complaint, information obtained through court-authorized wiretaps uncovered that Tapia was utilizing his position as a law enforcement officer to run criminal history checks on behalf of people involved in illegal drug trafficking. The complaint further alleges that Tapia passed on to those same individuals specific sensitive information regarding the then-ongoing drug investigation that he had obtained through the course of his official duties.
The individuals to whom Tapia passed the information were arrested in July 2008 and have since been charged along with several others in the Southern District of California in a criminal indictment in Case No. 08CR2642JAH.
Tapia is scheduled to be in court next on September 16, 2008, before Magistrate Judge Papas for a preliminary hearing.
United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced that Juan Hurtado Tapia, a uniformed officer of the San Diego Police Department, was arraigned in federal court in San Diego by United States Magistrate Judge Leo S. Papas on a criminal complaint charging him with misuse of his status as a law enforcement officer to obtain and pass sensitive information to associates who were involved in drug trafficking crimes.
Mr. Tapia was arrested by FBI and DEA agents on September 2, 2008.
The complaint alleges that during the course of a long-term drug trafficking investigation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the San Diego Police Department, investigating agents became aware in May 2008 that the targets of their investigation were in contact with Juan Hurtado Tapia, a patrol officer employed by the San Diego Police Department.
According to the complaint, information obtained through court-authorized wiretaps uncovered that Tapia was utilizing his position as a law enforcement officer to run criminal history checks on behalf of people involved in illegal drug trafficking. The complaint further alleges that Tapia passed on to those same individuals specific sensitive information regarding the then-ongoing drug investigation that he had obtained through the course of his official duties.
The individuals to whom Tapia passed the information were arrested in July 2008 and have since been charged along with several others in the Southern District of California in a criminal indictment in Case No. 08CR2642JAH.
Tapia is scheduled to be in court next on September 16, 2008, before Magistrate Judge Papas for a preliminary hearing.
Officer Rick Johnson Fired for Having Sex with Teen
An Altoona police officer accused of having sex with a teenage girl has been fired from his job.
Just hours after Rick Johnson waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday, Altoona City Council voted unanimously to fire him, citing a violation of the city's code of conduct.
It was not immediately clear if Johnson will be eligible to collect his police pension.
Officials with the city's pension board said, as far as they are concerned, there is no reason Johnson should be denied his pension.
Officer Rick Johnson Arrested for Having Sex with Teen
An Altoona police officer remains on administrative leave as authorities investigate his relationship with a 16-year-old girl.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General is leading the investigation. State police are also working the case, waiting for lab results and conducting additional interviews.
Rick Johnson was arrested Tuesday on charges of endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors.
Police allege Johnson had sex with a 16-year-old girl from Indiana who he met on the Internet. The girl had visited Johnson a couple of times with her parents before visiting him alone last week.
Police said Johnson and the girl had sex three times when she visited him alone. Investigators said the girl's friends showed inappropriate text messages to the girl's parents, who in turn called police.
Johnson was not charged with statutory rape because the girl is 16 years old and the sex was consensual, police said.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General is leading the investigation. State police are also working the case, waiting for lab results and conducting additional interviews.
Rick Johnson was arrested Tuesday on charges of endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors.
Police allege Johnson had sex with a 16-year-old girl from Indiana who he met on the Internet. The girl had visited Johnson a couple of times with her parents before visiting him alone last week.
Police said Johnson and the girl had sex three times when she visited him alone. Investigators said the girl's friends showed inappropriate text messages to the girl's parents, who in turn called police.
Johnson was not charged with statutory rape because the girl is 16 years old and the sex was consensual, police said.
Officer Chad Broder Accused of Fondling Handcuffed Teen
A 25-year-old Erie police officer has been arrested for investigation of unlawful sexual contact and attempted sexual assault of a young woman he had taken into custody.
The officer, Chad Aaron Broder, 25, allegedly fondled an 18-year-old woman whom he arrested for violating a restraining order.
According to Greeley police spokesman Sgt. Joe Tymkowych, Broder handled the arrest differently than most, placing the cuffed hands of the woman in front of her and letting her ride in the front passenger seat of the police cruiser.
Tymkowych said it is standard procedure to place arrested individuals in the back seat and to cuff their hands behind them.
The incident allegedly occurred the night of Aug. 31 in the 2400 block of O Street in Greeley.
Tymkowych said that Broder purportedly started talking to the young woman and then started kissing and fondling her.
The woman said she rebuffed Broder.
After she was released from custody, she told friends, who told a Longmont police officer. The Longmont officer told the woman she needed to report the incident.
Greeley police did an additional investigation after being informed of the allegations. The investigation was aided by the fact that Broder told the 18-year-old how he could be contacted.
There was an exchange of e-mails between the woman and Broder. The content of the e-mails "showed that what she claimed had happened did happen," said Tymkowych.
Broder was arrested at his home in Frederick at about 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Tymkowych said Broder has been with the Erie department for at least two years.
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=99533&catid=188
The officer, Chad Aaron Broder, 25, allegedly fondled an 18-year-old woman whom he arrested for violating a restraining order.
According to Greeley police spokesman Sgt. Joe Tymkowych, Broder handled the arrest differently than most, placing the cuffed hands of the woman in front of her and letting her ride in the front passenger seat of the police cruiser.
Tymkowych said it is standard procedure to place arrested individuals in the back seat and to cuff their hands behind them.
The incident allegedly occurred the night of Aug. 31 in the 2400 block of O Street in Greeley.
Tymkowych said that Broder purportedly started talking to the young woman and then started kissing and fondling her.
The woman said she rebuffed Broder.
After she was released from custody, she told friends, who told a Longmont police officer. The Longmont officer told the woman she needed to report the incident.
Greeley police did an additional investigation after being informed of the allegations. The investigation was aided by the fact that Broder told the 18-year-old how he could be contacted.
There was an exchange of e-mails between the woman and Broder. The content of the e-mails "showed that what she claimed had happened did happen," said Tymkowych.
Broder was arrested at his home in Frederick at about 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Tymkowych said Broder has been with the Erie department for at least two years.
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=99533&catid=188
Former Officer Kevin Johnson Accused of Rape
NEW YORK
A former New York City police officer has been indicted on charges of raping a woman in a hotel bathroom.
Prosecutors say 28-year-old Kevin Johnson was a police officer in April when he met a group of women at a Manhattan bar. They say although he was off duty he told the women he was an officer and one of them invited him back to their hotel room.
Johnson is accused of sexually assaulting another woman as she slept in the bathroom of the hotel room.
Johnson is charged with rape and sexual abuse. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the more serious rape charge. He resigned in June.
Defense attorney Stuart London says Johnson "vehemently denies the charges and looks forward to being vindicated at trial."
A former New York City police officer has been indicted on charges of raping a woman in a hotel bathroom.
Prosecutors say 28-year-old Kevin Johnson was a police officer in April when he met a group of women at a Manhattan bar. They say although he was off duty he told the women he was an officer and one of them invited him back to their hotel room.
Johnson is accused of sexually assaulting another woman as she slept in the bathroom of the hotel room.
Johnson is charged with rape and sexual abuse. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the more serious rape charge. He resigned in June.
Defense attorney Stuart London says Johnson "vehemently denies the charges and looks forward to being vindicated at trial."
Officer Tony Smith Fired for Insubordination
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo today fired a police officer for insubordination after he said the officer posted a blog entry that his superiors concluded was meant to undermine the chief’s authority, according to a disciplinary memo.
According to the memo, officer Tony Smith posted an article from the blog on a bulletin board regarding a sexual harassment claim against Acevedo when he worked with the California Highway patrol. The memo alleges that Smith circulated the printout in protest of the firing of Sgt. Dustin Lee.
Lee was fired in June after he was accused of repeatedly sexually harassing a police employee and lying about it to internal affairs investigators.
According to the memo, Smith said during a dismissal hearing that he, “posted the blog because it was interesting and denied any intent to criticize, ridicule, or undermine,” Acevedo.
His chain of command disagreed, according to the memo, and concluded that Smith intended to undermine the chief’s authority.
Acevedo said in the memo that he recused himself from the review hearing because the incident involved himself. He left it up to Smith’s chain of command to recommend an appropriate discipline.
Smith has worked for the department since 2003, and has been disciplined several times, the memo said.
In 2005, he was suspended for 60 days after he was accused of refusing to end a relationship with a methamphetamine user and misusing city equipment to check the woman for warrants at her request, according to the memo. He was also accused of failing to take police action when he believed the woman was purchasing drugs, the memo said.
Several years ago, Acevedo, then a chief with the California highway patrol, was sued along with the highway patrol by a female employee whom Acevedo had dated a decade earlier. She said in the lawsuit that he had taken nude photos of her and shown them to other agency officials.
The lawsuit was dismissed, except for one allegation that Acevedo said was unrelated to his work and was settled. Acevedo said terms of the settlement prevent him from discussing the matter, and the case has been sealed by a judge.
http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/txcn/austin/stories/091008kvue_APD_officer_fired-cb.63390686.html
According to the memo, officer Tony Smith posted an article from the blog on a bulletin board regarding a sexual harassment claim against Acevedo when he worked with the California Highway patrol. The memo alleges that Smith circulated the printout in protest of the firing of Sgt. Dustin Lee.
Lee was fired in June after he was accused of repeatedly sexually harassing a police employee and lying about it to internal affairs investigators.
According to the memo, Smith said during a dismissal hearing that he, “posted the blog because it was interesting and denied any intent to criticize, ridicule, or undermine,” Acevedo.
His chain of command disagreed, according to the memo, and concluded that Smith intended to undermine the chief’s authority.
Acevedo said in the memo that he recused himself from the review hearing because the incident involved himself. He left it up to Smith’s chain of command to recommend an appropriate discipline.
Smith has worked for the department since 2003, and has been disciplined several times, the memo said.
In 2005, he was suspended for 60 days after he was accused of refusing to end a relationship with a methamphetamine user and misusing city equipment to check the woman for warrants at her request, according to the memo. He was also accused of failing to take police action when he believed the woman was purchasing drugs, the memo said.
Several years ago, Acevedo, then a chief with the California highway patrol, was sued along with the highway patrol by a female employee whom Acevedo had dated a decade earlier. She said in the lawsuit that he had taken nude photos of her and shown them to other agency officials.
The lawsuit was dismissed, except for one allegation that Acevedo said was unrelated to his work and was settled. Acevedo said terms of the settlement prevent him from discussing the matter, and the case has been sealed by a judge.
http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/txcn/austin/stories/091008kvue_APD_officer_fired-cb.63390686.html
Fire Chief Facing Charges of Rape Resigns
Boston Deputy Fire Chief Peter Pearson, facing charges of rape and attempted rape, resigned yesterday and is seeking a pension that could pay him more than $75,000 a year.
Based on calculations of age, years of service, military history, and his three highest paid consecutive years of service, Pearson could receive at least $76,874 a year and as much as $91,459.
Pearson's attorney, Kevin J. Reddington of Brockton, said his client, a 23-year Fire Department member, had no choice but to resign and apply for his pension after receiving notice from the fire administration that his job was in jeopardy. Under the notice, which he received last week, he had 14 days to return to work or he could be fired.
"It appears what Peter has to do to protect his family and his loved ones is to submit the paperwork he did," Reddington said. "He's got many, many years of distinguished service, and he's entitled to retirement."
Pearson was arrested on Aug. 18 after a prostitute in Brockton alleged that he raped her weeks earlier while posing as a State Police officer and showing a gun. He was initially released on $50,000 cash bail.
Within a week, five other women made allegations that he raped or tried to rape them. In all, four of them said he showed a gun. Pearson has since been held under the state's dangerousness statute.
Pearson has been in jail since Aug. 22. He applied for a four-month leave of absence, but Fire Commissioner Roderick Fraser rejected the request.
Reddington said Pearson will contest the charges and is appealing his detention. But, he said, Pearson needed to resign and seek his pension once he received the letter.
Retirement pensions are calculated on a complex formula based on age, years of service, history in the military, and the three highest paid consecutive years of service. According to city records, Pearson received an average of $158,539 over the last three years.
The state Board of Retirement calculations said Pearson, 51, is eligible to receive at least $76,874 a year if he retires immediately.
An alternative is to collect a pension at a later time. If he chooses to collect a pension at age 65, he could receive more than $91,459 a year.
City retirement officials have said that employees convicted of criminal charges can have their pensions revoked if their employer petitions the Boston Retirement Board. The officials have said it is very unusual for the board to revoke pensions. It was not clear whether the crime has to be related to job duty.
Individuals who face losing their pensions do have the opportunity to appear before the retirement board and make a case for keeping their retirement benefits.
Steve MacDonald, a spokesman for the Fire Department, said he could not comment on Pearson's salary, saying the issue will go before the city Retirement Board, which must approve city employee retirements.
http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO87698/
Based on calculations of age, years of service, military history, and his three highest paid consecutive years of service, Pearson could receive at least $76,874 a year and as much as $91,459.
Pearson's attorney, Kevin J. Reddington of Brockton, said his client, a 23-year Fire Department member, had no choice but to resign and apply for his pension after receiving notice from the fire administration that his job was in jeopardy. Under the notice, which he received last week, he had 14 days to return to work or he could be fired.
"It appears what Peter has to do to protect his family and his loved ones is to submit the paperwork he did," Reddington said. "He's got many, many years of distinguished service, and he's entitled to retirement."
Pearson was arrested on Aug. 18 after a prostitute in Brockton alleged that he raped her weeks earlier while posing as a State Police officer and showing a gun. He was initially released on $50,000 cash bail.
Within a week, five other women made allegations that he raped or tried to rape them. In all, four of them said he showed a gun. Pearson has since been held under the state's dangerousness statute.
Pearson has been in jail since Aug. 22. He applied for a four-month leave of absence, but Fire Commissioner Roderick Fraser rejected the request.
Reddington said Pearson will contest the charges and is appealing his detention. But, he said, Pearson needed to resign and seek his pension once he received the letter.
Retirement pensions are calculated on a complex formula based on age, years of service, history in the military, and the three highest paid consecutive years of service. According to city records, Pearson received an average of $158,539 over the last three years.
The state Board of Retirement calculations said Pearson, 51, is eligible to receive at least $76,874 a year if he retires immediately.
An alternative is to collect a pension at a later time. If he chooses to collect a pension at age 65, he could receive more than $91,459 a year.
City retirement officials have said that employees convicted of criminal charges can have their pensions revoked if their employer petitions the Boston Retirement Board. The officials have said it is very unusual for the board to revoke pensions. It was not clear whether the crime has to be related to job duty.
Individuals who face losing their pensions do have the opportunity to appear before the retirement board and make a case for keeping their retirement benefits.
Steve MacDonald, a spokesman for the Fire Department, said he could not comment on Pearson's salary, saying the issue will go before the city Retirement Board, which must approve city employee retirements.
http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO87698/
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Deputy Jeffery Nation Arrested for Assaulting Teen
AIKEN, S.C.
Authorities say a former Aiken County Sheriff’s deputy is charged with assaulting an 18-year-old he was arresting.
The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office said 40-year-old Jeffrey Nation of Aiken was arrested Tuesday, two days after he hit a New Ellenton teenager. Nation was charged with assault and battery and misconduct in office.
Sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Michael Frank said Nation was no longer an officer as of Tuesday morning.
Assault charges against the teen were dismissed. A statement from the sheriff’s office said Nation falsely accused the teen of trying to head-butt him.
Sheriff Michael Hunt said he asked the South Carolina Law Enforcement to investigate, and he apologized to the teen for unacceptable behavior by an officer.
Authorities say a former Aiken County Sheriff’s deputy is charged with assaulting an 18-year-old he was arresting.
The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office said 40-year-old Jeffrey Nation of Aiken was arrested Tuesday, two days after he hit a New Ellenton teenager. Nation was charged with assault and battery and misconduct in office.
Sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Michael Frank said Nation was no longer an officer as of Tuesday morning.
Assault charges against the teen were dismissed. A statement from the sheriff’s office said Nation falsely accused the teen of trying to head-butt him.
Sheriff Michael Hunt said he asked the South Carolina Law Enforcement to investigate, and he apologized to the teen for unacceptable behavior by an officer.
Officer Kevin Kovalovsky Request Denied
A former Freemansburg police officer charged with drunken driving faces a preliminary hearing again after his request for a first-time offender program was denied.
Kevin Kovalovsky, 32, was a full-time police officer when he was charged in December with two counts of drunken driving while off-duty. State police found Kovalovsky in his car along Route 33 in Bushkill Township and said his blood-alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit for driving of .08 percent.
Kovalovsky had waived his right to a preliminary hearing so he could be considered for the county's Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for first-time offenders. But Kovalovsky has been rejected for the program, said Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Bill Blake.
Kovalovsky asked the court to send the drunken driving charges back to a district judge and the request was granted Tuesday by Northampton County Judge F.P. Kimberly McFadden.
No new date has been set for the preliminary hearing, Blake said.
Last month, Kovalovsky was fired from the Freemansburg Police Department. Kovalovsky had served with the department since 1997.
In March, Kovalovsky was charged with public drunkenness by his own department in the early morning after St. Patrick's Day. That charge was later dismissed.
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf?/base/news-0/122101956449010.xml&coll=3
Kevin Kovalovsky, 32, was a full-time police officer when he was charged in December with two counts of drunken driving while off-duty. State police found Kovalovsky in his car along Route 33 in Bushkill Township and said his blood-alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit for driving of .08 percent.
Kovalovsky had waived his right to a preliminary hearing so he could be considered for the county's Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for first-time offenders. But Kovalovsky has been rejected for the program, said Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Bill Blake.
Kovalovsky asked the court to send the drunken driving charges back to a district judge and the request was granted Tuesday by Northampton County Judge F.P. Kimberly McFadden.
No new date has been set for the preliminary hearing, Blake said.
Last month, Kovalovsky was fired from the Freemansburg Police Department. Kovalovsky had served with the department since 1997.
In March, Kovalovsky was charged with public drunkenness by his own department in the early morning after St. Patrick's Day. That charge was later dismissed.
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf?/base/news-0/122101956449010.xml&coll=3
Officer Shaun Asher Arrested for Domestic Dispute
RIPLEY
A West Union Police officer was recently arrested following an alleged domestic dispute in the Ripley Post Office.
According to a report from the Ripley Police Department, on Aug. 23, at approximately 2:39 p.m., Officer Kevin Little of the Ripley Police department was advised of a fight at the Ripley Post Office on U.S. 52.
According to the report submitted by Officer Little, the argument involved a man and two women. The man was later identified by Ripley Police Officer Brad Liming to be West Union Police Officer Shaun Asher.
In his report, Little states that he approached Asher, who refused to cooperate and calm down. After Officer Little had tried several times to get Asher under control, he warned Asher that he would be shot with the taser due to his "anger being out of control."
According to Little, Asher stated that his girlfriend, a juvenile, and his wife, Jennifer Asher, were arguing and that he was trying to break it up. Little advised the girlfriend to leave the premises.
According to the report, Asher continued to persist, cursing and, at times becoming uncontrollable. A short time later, Lieutenant David Benjamin and Sergeant Donald Newman of the Ripley Police Department arrived on the scene. The two advised that Asher had been recently warned of his behavior at a bar at 19 Main Street.
Allegedly, Asher then stated that he was a cop and that he would "get out of it." All officers at the scene attempted to get Asher into a cab or other form of transportation, but Asher refused and told the officers to arrest him.
According to the officers, Asher allegedly turned to his wife and told her, "Shut up or I'll hit you up side the head." Upon uttering this statement, Asher was arrested for verbal domestic violence and persistent disorderly conduct. Asher was then placed in a police cruiser where he continued to curse and attempted to kick and hit the windows.
Sergeant Newman contacted the Brown County Sheriff's Office to advise of Asher's transportation to the Brown County Jail. He also contacted West Union Police Chief Roy Stricklet about the arrest. Chief Stricklet had no comment on the matter.
Allegedly, Asher continued to struggle during his travel to the Brown County Jail, claiming that he was going to fight everyone in the jail.
"Asher was afforded ample opportunities to keep himself out of jail," reported Sergeant Newman. "He decided not to use them."
A West Union Police officer was recently arrested following an alleged domestic dispute in the Ripley Post Office.
According to a report from the Ripley Police Department, on Aug. 23, at approximately 2:39 p.m., Officer Kevin Little of the Ripley Police department was advised of a fight at the Ripley Post Office on U.S. 52.
According to the report submitted by Officer Little, the argument involved a man and two women. The man was later identified by Ripley Police Officer Brad Liming to be West Union Police Officer Shaun Asher.
In his report, Little states that he approached Asher, who refused to cooperate and calm down. After Officer Little had tried several times to get Asher under control, he warned Asher that he would be shot with the taser due to his "anger being out of control."
According to Little, Asher stated that his girlfriend, a juvenile, and his wife, Jennifer Asher, were arguing and that he was trying to break it up. Little advised the girlfriend to leave the premises.
According to the report, Asher continued to persist, cursing and, at times becoming uncontrollable. A short time later, Lieutenant David Benjamin and Sergeant Donald Newman of the Ripley Police Department arrived on the scene. The two advised that Asher had been recently warned of his behavior at a bar at 19 Main Street.
Allegedly, Asher then stated that he was a cop and that he would "get out of it." All officers at the scene attempted to get Asher into a cab or other form of transportation, but Asher refused and told the officers to arrest him.
According to the officers, Asher allegedly turned to his wife and told her, "Shut up or I'll hit you up side the head." Upon uttering this statement, Asher was arrested for verbal domestic violence and persistent disorderly conduct. Asher was then placed in a police cruiser where he continued to curse and attempted to kick and hit the windows.
Sergeant Newman contacted the Brown County Sheriff's Office to advise of Asher's transportation to the Brown County Jail. He also contacted West Union Police Chief Roy Stricklet about the arrest. Chief Stricklet had no comment on the matter.
Allegedly, Asher continued to struggle during his travel to the Brown County Jail, claiming that he was going to fight everyone in the jail.
"Asher was afforded ample opportunities to keep himself out of jail," reported Sergeant Newman. "He decided not to use them."
Probation Officer Arrested on Theft and Forgery
A current and former employee of Cameron County's Probation Department have been arrested on theft and forgery charges after they were accused of selling $70,000 worth of forged Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark passes.
Sylvia Gonzalez, 37, and Angela Garcia, 32, both of Brownsville, were released on $7,500 personal recognizance bonds following their Monday arrests and arraignments, officials said.
Investigators believe the women sold approximately 600 forged Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark passes this year alone, said Jason Moody, spokesman for the District Attorney's office.
Schlitterbahn officials are conducting an audit to determine if any fake passes might have been sold in previous years.
Gonzalez was arrested at the probation office where she worked as an office clerk. It is not immediately known where Garcia was arrested.
Garcia resigned from her job as a probation officer two weeks ago.
Gonzalez will most likely be suspended with or without pay depending on the circumstances of her case, Human Resources Director Manuel Villarreal said.
Gonzalez's and Garcia's arrests are the result of a month-long investigation by the Cameron County District Attorney's Office Special Operations Group.
The district attorney's office had been contacted by Schlitterbahn employee, Mike Bigelow, director of marketing and sales, who alleged that numerous season passes had been copied and forged.
Bigelow stated that the passes were similar to the ones sold by the county's Human Resources Department to county employees at a discount.
A preliminary investigation shows that Gonzalez and Garcia were allegedly selling adult passes at $30 to $45 and passes for children at $25 to $40. The adult passes normally sell for $99, and season passes for children sell for $69.
Commenting on the arrest and charges, District Attorney Armando Villalobos said, he is disappointed with the situation in which " a few bad apples have taken advantage of a county perk for illicit gain... we are deeply offended that it included persons associated with law enforcement. We will seek jail time."
Authorities urge anyone who may have bought forged passes to contact the district attorney's office.
Sylvia Gonzalez, 37, and Angela Garcia, 32, both of Brownsville, were released on $7,500 personal recognizance bonds following their Monday arrests and arraignments, officials said.
Investigators believe the women sold approximately 600 forged Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark passes this year alone, said Jason Moody, spokesman for the District Attorney's office.
Schlitterbahn officials are conducting an audit to determine if any fake passes might have been sold in previous years.
Gonzalez was arrested at the probation office where she worked as an office clerk. It is not immediately known where Garcia was arrested.
Garcia resigned from her job as a probation officer two weeks ago.
Gonzalez will most likely be suspended with or without pay depending on the circumstances of her case, Human Resources Director Manuel Villarreal said.
Gonzalez's and Garcia's arrests are the result of a month-long investigation by the Cameron County District Attorney's Office Special Operations Group.
The district attorney's office had been contacted by Schlitterbahn employee, Mike Bigelow, director of marketing and sales, who alleged that numerous season passes had been copied and forged.
Bigelow stated that the passes were similar to the ones sold by the county's Human Resources Department to county employees at a discount.
A preliminary investigation shows that Gonzalez and Garcia were allegedly selling adult passes at $30 to $45 and passes for children at $25 to $40. The adult passes normally sell for $99, and season passes for children sell for $69.
Commenting on the arrest and charges, District Attorney Armando Villalobos said, he is disappointed with the situation in which " a few bad apples have taken advantage of a county perk for illicit gain... we are deeply offended that it included persons associated with law enforcement. We will seek jail time."
Authorities urge anyone who may have bought forged passes to contact the district attorney's office.
Detention Officer Clayton Buycks Arrested
Sheriff Joe Arpaio has arrested one of his own on charges of sexual assault and kidnapping.
28 year-old Clayton Darnell Buycks is a detention officer, accused of fondling a female inmate inside an elevator at the East Courthouse in downtown Phoenix last month.
The inmate was being transported to court to face drug charges when the attack occurred and investigators say she was handcuffed, resulting in the kidnapping charge.
Buycks spent the last 5 years as a detention officer with the Sheriff's Office, but Arpaio says he's been placed on administrative leave with pay while they continue their investigation.
http://www.azfamily.com/news/homepagetopstory/stories/phoenix-local-news-090908-officer-arrest.5ecdd5ce.html
28 year-old Clayton Darnell Buycks is a detention officer, accused of fondling a female inmate inside an elevator at the East Courthouse in downtown Phoenix last month.
The inmate was being transported to court to face drug charges when the attack occurred and investigators say she was handcuffed, resulting in the kidnapping charge.
Buycks spent the last 5 years as a detention officer with the Sheriff's Office, but Arpaio says he's been placed on administrative leave with pay while they continue their investigation.
http://www.azfamily.com/news/homepagetopstory/stories/phoenix-local-news-090908-officer-arrest.5ecdd5ce.html
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Officer Chancy Jones Charged with Murder
MEMPHIS, TN
A Memphis police officer has been arrested and charged with Second Degree Murder in the death of his mistress.
According to Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin, Officer Chancy Jones was in a sexual relationship with the victim, Phyllis Malone, over a period of weeks. Jones was married and had two children. At some point, Jones’ relationship with Malone became troubled. The two agreed to meet at a gas station in the 1700 block of Whitten Road, where investigators believe the murder happened, said Godwin. Malone’s body was found, slumped over the wheel of a car at the Shell gas station in Northeast Memphis, by a Wonder Bread delivery driver, Tuesday, September 9, 2008, around 5:40 a.m.
Director Godwin says an investigation led detectives to Officer Jones as a suspect in the shooting. Investigators say Jones committed the murder and then went to work as scheduled Tuesday afternoon. Investigators say the evidence quickly pointed to Jones and he was called back to his precinct Tuesday evening and taken to headquarters for questioning.
Officer Jones’ Personnel File at the Memphis Police Department shows that Jones appears to have been a model police officer. There was no disciplinary record for Jones, but there were many commendations and comments of praise within his file.
According to Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin, Officer Chancy Jones was in a sexual relationship with the victim, Phyllis Malone, over a period of weeks. Jones was married and had two children. At some point, Jones’ relationship with Malone became troubled. The two agreed to meet at a gas station in the 1700 block of Whitten Road, where investigators believe the murder happened, said Godwin. Malone’s body was found, slumped over the wheel of a car at the Shell gas station in Northeast Memphis, by a Wonder Bread delivery driver, Tuesday, September 9, 2008, around 5:40 a.m.
Director Godwin says an investigation led detectives to Officer Jones as a suspect in the shooting. Investigators say Jones committed the murder and then went to work as scheduled Tuesday afternoon. Investigators say the evidence quickly pointed to Jones and he was called back to his precinct Tuesday evening and taken to headquarters for questioning.
Officer Jones’ Personnel File at the Memphis Police Department shows that Jones appears to have been a model police officer. There was no disciplinary record for Jones, but there were many commendations and comments of praise within his file.
Officers Trying to Get Away with Using Fake Degrees
Berwyn Police Officer Thomas Skryd insisted he was well-qualified for promotion to sergeant: Just look at his test scores and master's degree in criminal justice, with an emphasis in "crimes of the powerful."
But when the city refused to consider the diploma, awarded by a university that approves advanced degrees overnight, Skryd fired back with a lawsuit.
The case, eventually dismissed, is another example tying the suburb's police department with recently uncovered diploma scandals.
Last month the Tribune reported that the names of five other current or former Berwyn police officers turned up on a federal list of 9,600 suspected buyers of degrees from phony schools as part of a Washington state criminal diploma scheme. Skryd is not on the list.
Through city records, it showed that a now-retired Berwyn Fire Department employee claimed a master of science degree in fire-safety management awarded from a university that state and federal officials don't recognize.
Police Chief William Kushner said his department has launched an investigation into whether the police officers and the Fire Department official used bogus academic credentials illegally to gain undeserved promotions and pay raises. Kushner said he also talked to the public integrity section of the Cook County state's attorney's office about possible charges.
And because the City of Berwyn offers a tuition-reimbursement program, Kushner said part of the investigation will look into whether anyone had wrongfully gotten tuition reimbursement for fake degrees, which can go from $500 a year for an associate's degree to $1,500 a year for a postgraduate diploma.
"It's a black eye on a fine department," Kushner said.
Because Kushner refused to honor Skryd's diploma, Skryd is not part of the investigation, Kushner said.
Documents obtained by the Tribune show that one retired police officer was approved for a $1,900 tuition reimbursement for a doctorate in criminal justice from Glencullen University, an institution whose accreditation isn't recognized by the federal government. Kushner said he has yet to determine whether any payments actually went through.
With the exception of Skryd, the Tribune is not naming the officials who allegedly bought the degrees because they have not been charged with a crime. Skryd's name became public when he filed the lawsuit.
Kushner said he has gone through the academic credentials of all current officers to make sure they are legitimate, and he has found no further problems.
Skryd, who never got his promotion, said he was not aware that the Belford University degree he obtained was questionable. He said that his lawsuit, filed in 2006, covered other issues apart from his degree, and that he was embarrassed to learn the nature of Belford University.
"It was one of those situations where I should've known," he said. "It was too good to be true."
Skryd's wife is Ald. Michele Skryd, who he said was unaware of his degree. "Once I realized what had happened, I was probably too embarrassed even to tell her," he said.
Kushner, who assumed his job early in 2006, talked with Skryd before he filed his suit, noting the problems with the university.
Kushner said he asked Skryd if he knew the degree had no value. "[Skryd] said, 'Well, I guess I do now,' " according to Kushner.
Still, he included the degree in his suit—an act he now blames on "cognitive dissonance."
Berwyn officials emphasize that the alleged abuses took place under a previous police chief and mayor, and that Kushner and the human resources department now must approve degrees that are submitted.
The investigation was recently aired at a City Council meeting after aldermen demanded more information.
Some of them had heard rumors that there was no investigation, "which was furthest from the truth," Mayor Michael O'Connor said. "We would never stand in the way."
The names of the current and former Berwyn officers under fire came to light after federal agents investigated the Washington diploma scheme. That probe eventually led to guilty pleas this year from diploma mill officials.
Some of the diplomas allegedly obtained by the Berwyn officers came from schools such as St. Regis University, part of the Washington scheme that federal officials shut down, and LaSalle University in Mandeville, La., which collapsed after its president was imprisoned for fraud in connection with the selling of degrees in the late 1990s.
Others, such as Glencullen University, have accreditation that isn't recognized by either the state or federal government, or both.
Records obtained by the Tribune show that the retired Berwyn Fire Department employee was awarded a degree in 2005 by Madison University, a Mississippi institution whose accreditation state and federal officials don't recognize. Fire Chief Denis J. O'Halloran said he turned the case over to Kushner.
As for Skryd's school, Belford University, it grants degrees within a few hours based on undocumented "life experience" submitted by applicants. George Gollin, a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a diploma-mill buster, tested the system and was quickly approved for a doctorate in public policy. "I gave them as my life experience that I read the newspaper and I watch the evening television news," Gollin said. "And they wrote back to say, 'Sure thing,' and I think they wanted about 500 bucks for the degree."
To apply to Belford, Skryd said he filled out a multiple-choice questionnaire and submitted his résumé online, listing his years of work on the beat, in-service training and other experience. Within a few days, he was approved for the degree, Skryd said.
But he said the degree didn't help his career; he is still waiting for promotion to sergeant.
"I never did benefit from it," Skryd said, "and I certainly would never do something like that again."
But when the city refused to consider the diploma, awarded by a university that approves advanced degrees overnight, Skryd fired back with a lawsuit.
The case, eventually dismissed, is another example tying the suburb's police department with recently uncovered diploma scandals.
Last month the Tribune reported that the names of five other current or former Berwyn police officers turned up on a federal list of 9,600 suspected buyers of degrees from phony schools as part of a Washington state criminal diploma scheme. Skryd is not on the list.
Through city records, it showed that a now-retired Berwyn Fire Department employee claimed a master of science degree in fire-safety management awarded from a university that state and federal officials don't recognize.
Police Chief William Kushner said his department has launched an investigation into whether the police officers and the Fire Department official used bogus academic credentials illegally to gain undeserved promotions and pay raises. Kushner said he also talked to the public integrity section of the Cook County state's attorney's office about possible charges.
And because the City of Berwyn offers a tuition-reimbursement program, Kushner said part of the investigation will look into whether anyone had wrongfully gotten tuition reimbursement for fake degrees, which can go from $500 a year for an associate's degree to $1,500 a year for a postgraduate diploma.
"It's a black eye on a fine department," Kushner said.
Because Kushner refused to honor Skryd's diploma, Skryd is not part of the investigation, Kushner said.
Documents obtained by the Tribune show that one retired police officer was approved for a $1,900 tuition reimbursement for a doctorate in criminal justice from Glencullen University, an institution whose accreditation isn't recognized by the federal government. Kushner said he has yet to determine whether any payments actually went through.
With the exception of Skryd, the Tribune is not naming the officials who allegedly bought the degrees because they have not been charged with a crime. Skryd's name became public when he filed the lawsuit.
Kushner said he has gone through the academic credentials of all current officers to make sure they are legitimate, and he has found no further problems.
Skryd, who never got his promotion, said he was not aware that the Belford University degree he obtained was questionable. He said that his lawsuit, filed in 2006, covered other issues apart from his degree, and that he was embarrassed to learn the nature of Belford University.
"It was one of those situations where I should've known," he said. "It was too good to be true."
Skryd's wife is Ald. Michele Skryd, who he said was unaware of his degree. "Once I realized what had happened, I was probably too embarrassed even to tell her," he said.
Kushner, who assumed his job early in 2006, talked with Skryd before he filed his suit, noting the problems with the university.
Kushner said he asked Skryd if he knew the degree had no value. "[Skryd] said, 'Well, I guess I do now,' " according to Kushner.
Still, he included the degree in his suit—an act he now blames on "cognitive dissonance."
Berwyn officials emphasize that the alleged abuses took place under a previous police chief and mayor, and that Kushner and the human resources department now must approve degrees that are submitted.
The investigation was recently aired at a City Council meeting after aldermen demanded more information.
Some of them had heard rumors that there was no investigation, "which was furthest from the truth," Mayor Michael O'Connor said. "We would never stand in the way."
The names of the current and former Berwyn officers under fire came to light after federal agents investigated the Washington diploma scheme. That probe eventually led to guilty pleas this year from diploma mill officials.
Some of the diplomas allegedly obtained by the Berwyn officers came from schools such as St. Regis University, part of the Washington scheme that federal officials shut down, and LaSalle University in Mandeville, La., which collapsed after its president was imprisoned for fraud in connection with the selling of degrees in the late 1990s.
Others, such as Glencullen University, have accreditation that isn't recognized by either the state or federal government, or both.
Records obtained by the Tribune show that the retired Berwyn Fire Department employee was awarded a degree in 2005 by Madison University, a Mississippi institution whose accreditation state and federal officials don't recognize. Fire Chief Denis J. O'Halloran said he turned the case over to Kushner.
As for Skryd's school, Belford University, it grants degrees within a few hours based on undocumented "life experience" submitted by applicants. George Gollin, a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a diploma-mill buster, tested the system and was quickly approved for a doctorate in public policy. "I gave them as my life experience that I read the newspaper and I watch the evening television news," Gollin said. "And they wrote back to say, 'Sure thing,' and I think they wanted about 500 bucks for the degree."
To apply to Belford, Skryd said he filled out a multiple-choice questionnaire and submitted his résumé online, listing his years of work on the beat, in-service training and other experience. Within a few days, he was approved for the degree, Skryd said.
But he said the degree didn't help his career; he is still waiting for promotion to sergeant.
"I never did benefit from it," Skryd said, "and I certainly would never do something like that again."
Deputy Jeffery Gerres Charged with Assault
A Harford County sheriff's deputy was arrested Sunday morning in Southeast Baltimore after a woman told police she was coaxed into a residence for a bachelor party and pushed down a flight of stairs, according to court records.
But Deputy Jeffery Gerres, a member of the sheriff's office's violent street crimes unit who received a commendation in 2007, filed his own complaint yesterday against Denise Lillian Rothwell, 47, a twice-convicted prostitute, alleging that she hit him in the eye after he rejected her advances.
Police found Rothwell about 3:30 a.m., crying with her face bruised and bloodied. She told police that a group of five men drove up to her, one of whom flashed a police badge, and asked her to join them for a bachelor party in the 3300 block of O'Donnell St., city police wrote in charging documents.
Rothwell said that she was offered $100 to perform a sex act on the bachelor, who was not identified, but alleged that the man with the badge later asked for the money back, saying that the bills were marked. She added that the man pushed her toward the front door and pushed her again down the stairs, causing her to fall face-first.
Crime lab technicians responded to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where she was taken for treatment and examination.
An officer went to the O'Donnell Street residence, where Gerres, 29, of Rising Sun, allegedly answered the door and identified himself as a sheriff's deputy. He said he was standing on the front steps of the home when the woman asked him if he was "looking for a party." When he told her no, she struck him in the eye, he said. The officer later observed that Gerres had bruises around his left eye.
Police charged Gerres that morning with second-degree assault and allowing a person into a building for prostitution; yesterday, Gerres filed second-degree assault charges against the woman in District Court.
A spokeswoman for the county sheriff's office said Gerres' police powers have been suspended pending further investigation.
http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=ef5e95fc-1ff5-4ffd-9df5-80e238fc3ff8
But Deputy Jeffery Gerres, a member of the sheriff's office's violent street crimes unit who received a commendation in 2007, filed his own complaint yesterday against Denise Lillian Rothwell, 47, a twice-convicted prostitute, alleging that she hit him in the eye after he rejected her advances.
Police found Rothwell about 3:30 a.m., crying with her face bruised and bloodied. She told police that a group of five men drove up to her, one of whom flashed a police badge, and asked her to join them for a bachelor party in the 3300 block of O'Donnell St., city police wrote in charging documents.
Rothwell said that she was offered $100 to perform a sex act on the bachelor, who was not identified, but alleged that the man with the badge later asked for the money back, saying that the bills were marked. She added that the man pushed her toward the front door and pushed her again down the stairs, causing her to fall face-first.
Crime lab technicians responded to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where she was taken for treatment and examination.
An officer went to the O'Donnell Street residence, where Gerres, 29, of Rising Sun, allegedly answered the door and identified himself as a sheriff's deputy. He said he was standing on the front steps of the home when the woman asked him if he was "looking for a party." When he told her no, she struck him in the eye, he said. The officer later observed that Gerres had bruises around his left eye.
Police charged Gerres that morning with second-degree assault and allowing a person into a building for prostitution; yesterday, Gerres filed second-degree assault charges against the woman in District Court.
A spokeswoman for the county sheriff's office said Gerres' police powers have been suspended pending further investigation.
http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=ef5e95fc-1ff5-4ffd-9df5-80e238fc3ff8
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