Post by WaTcHeR on Aug 15, 2006 12:10:20 GMT -5
08.15.2006 - The president of Wilmington's Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 1 temporarily stepped down from his post Monday following his arrest in a domestic violence case.
Wilmington police officer Kevin Connor, 42, was charged Saturday with assault and malicious interference with emergency communications -- both misdemeanor offenses.
The 18-year police veteran, who has been placed on administrative leave from the department, was released on his own recognizance.
As a stipulation of Connor's bail, Justice of the Peace Judge Rosalie Rutkowski told Connor to stay away from the family home but allowed him to have contact with his children. He faces an Aug. 30 hearing on the charges in Family Court.
Wilmington police spokesman Master Sgt. Steven Elliott said an investigation into Connor's arrest would be handled by the department's Office of Professional Standards.
State law requires that people arrested on domestic violence charges involving an injury surrender any weapons in their possession. Elliott could not say late Monday whether Connor surrendered his weapon.
If convicted, Connor could lose his right to carry a gun under federal and state law.
According to court records, Connor and his wife began arguing after he received a call at 1:50 a.m. Saturday on his cell phone.
The argument escalated to a physical altercation with Connor hitting his wife in the head and face, "causing swelling and a laceration to her lip, redness and ringing to her left ear, and bruising to both of her forearms," police said in court records.
Her injuries are documented in digital photographs, police said. There is no indication in the records of whether she sought medical attention.
County officers were called to the couple's home near Brandywine Springs at 2:08 a.m. in response to a 911 hang-up call.
According to court records, Connor pulled the phone out of the wall when his wife threatened to call 911, or "when she told him to call his 'girlfriend.' " He was subsequently arrested near his home, police said.
When interviewed at county police headquarters, Connor told investigators that he was asleep when his wife came into the bedroom and pushed him. At that time, he hit her, police said in court records.
Connor also told investigators that he pulled the telephone from the wall because "his wife had requested him to call his girlfriend."
Elliott said Wilmington police Chief Michael Szczerba received a letter Monday from Connor announcing that he is taking a leave of absence from his union position.
Wilmington Fraternal Order of Police Vice President Michael Lawson is assuming Connor's duties, Elliott said.
Wilmington City Councilman Mike Brown, who is a member of council's public safety committee, said he received several anonymous phone calls from police officers during the weekend about the arrest.
He said Monday morning that he was upset that city police had not yet released any information on Saturday's incident.
"I think the public has a right to know when those people who are paid to protect and serve break the law themselves," he said. "They are held to a higher standard, and we need to know."
www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060815/NEWS/608150349/-1/NEWS01
Wilmington police officer Kevin Connor, 42, was charged Saturday with assault and malicious interference with emergency communications -- both misdemeanor offenses.
The 18-year police veteran, who has been placed on administrative leave from the department, was released on his own recognizance.
As a stipulation of Connor's bail, Justice of the Peace Judge Rosalie Rutkowski told Connor to stay away from the family home but allowed him to have contact with his children. He faces an Aug. 30 hearing on the charges in Family Court.
Wilmington police spokesman Master Sgt. Steven Elliott said an investigation into Connor's arrest would be handled by the department's Office of Professional Standards.
State law requires that people arrested on domestic violence charges involving an injury surrender any weapons in their possession. Elliott could not say late Monday whether Connor surrendered his weapon.
If convicted, Connor could lose his right to carry a gun under federal and state law.
According to court records, Connor and his wife began arguing after he received a call at 1:50 a.m. Saturday on his cell phone.
The argument escalated to a physical altercation with Connor hitting his wife in the head and face, "causing swelling and a laceration to her lip, redness and ringing to her left ear, and bruising to both of her forearms," police said in court records.
Her injuries are documented in digital photographs, police said. There is no indication in the records of whether she sought medical attention.
County officers were called to the couple's home near Brandywine Springs at 2:08 a.m. in response to a 911 hang-up call.
According to court records, Connor pulled the phone out of the wall when his wife threatened to call 911, or "when she told him to call his 'girlfriend.' " He was subsequently arrested near his home, police said.
When interviewed at county police headquarters, Connor told investigators that he was asleep when his wife came into the bedroom and pushed him. At that time, he hit her, police said in court records.
Connor also told investigators that he pulled the telephone from the wall because "his wife had requested him to call his girlfriend."
Elliott said Wilmington police Chief Michael Szczerba received a letter Monday from Connor announcing that he is taking a leave of absence from his union position.
Wilmington Fraternal Order of Police Vice President Michael Lawson is assuming Connor's duties, Elliott said.
Wilmington City Councilman Mike Brown, who is a member of council's public safety committee, said he received several anonymous phone calls from police officers during the weekend about the arrest.
He said Monday morning that he was upset that city police had not yet released any information on Saturday's incident.
"I think the public has a right to know when those people who are paid to protect and serve break the law themselves," he said. "They are held to a higher standard, and we need to know."
www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060815/NEWS/608150349/-1/NEWS01