Insignia of the Burlington Police Department. Photo by Aidan Quigley/VTDigger
BURLINGTON — The Burlington Police Department has suspended two officers for three weeks without pay for drinking beer they had confiscated from minors.
Chief Brandon del Pozo said in a statement Friday that the two officers did not follow the proper procedure for disposing of the beer, and instead consumed some of it. The officers will also be on probation for one year during which any additional substantiated misconduct would lead to dismissal.
The officers had taken the beer from the minors during a car stop on Dec. 7. Other officers in the department alerted their superiors that they were concerned the beer had not been properly disposed of, which led to the investigation.
The officers who had improperly consumed the confiscated beer were forthcoming about their behavior and contrite, del Pozo said.
Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo. File photo by Morgan True/VTDigger
“They understood that their actions were injurious to the reputation of all police officers, and could have cost them their jobs,” del Pozo said in the statement. “The periods of suspension and probation handed down as a result send the clear message that officers who call the profession’s integrity into doubt will face serious discipline for doing so.”
Del Pozo’s statement did not name the officers. He said earlier this week that the department had to balance the officers’ right to privacy, because personnel matters are considered confidential, with the public interest in knowing about the allegations.
The department consulted with the Burlington Police Commission, the city attorney, the state’s attorney and the city’s human resources department before deciding the punishment.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Officers who drank beer they confiscated get 3-week suspensions.