Post by WaTcHeR on Apr 5, 2006 12:02:04 GMT -5
04/05/2006 - A Corvallis police officer has resigned amid allegations that he had a sexual relationship with an Oregon State University student while he was supposed to be on patrol and then lied about it to his superiors, the Corvallis Police Department said Tuesday.
Ryan Thayer, who had been with the department for three years, submitted a short letter to Police Chief Gary Boldizsar last week saying he was quitting for “personal” reasons.
The department opened an investigation into the matter late last month. Thayer, 25, was accused of having sex with the woman while he was on duty, lying to supervisors about his whereabouts and activities, disobeying orders and using a department cell phone to talk with the woman.
In all, Thayer was accused of violating 21 department regulations, said Lt. Ron Noble, a department spokesman.
“Nobody in the city of Corvallis would expect to pay a police officer on duty to engage in that kind of conduct,” Noble said, adding that Thayer’s resignation was “the right thing for him to do.”
Thayer — who is married and has children, according to Noble — declined to comment Tuesday. Police union officials could not be contacted.
The department first suspected something was amiss March 20, when a supervisor thought he had caught Thayer in a lie, Noble said. Two days later, someone tipped authorities off about the alleged relationship.
Officials placed Thayer on administrative leave March 24 and then called off the investigation after he quit.
Police did not disclose the name or age of the woman involved, and Noble said he did not know exactly how long the relationship may have been going on.
Noble said there is no indication that the officer used his position as leverage in the relationship.
The department is also investigating Thayer and several other officers for the way they responded to a college party where many coeds wore only their underwear or lingerie.
Shortly after the incident, photos of the officers and lingerie-clad college women appeared on the social Web site MySpace, according to an internal document released by the department.
Police officials are still trying to determine whether the officers purposely posed with the women or acted inappropriately.
During his time on the force, Thayer received four commendations, including letters from residents, applauding his professionalism and community service, department records show.
Noble said there have been no similar incidents of sexual misconduct during his 18 years with the force. The Thayer investigation, he said, “is not representative of the Corvallis Police Department.”
“We’re extremely disappointed and, quite frankly, we’re embarrassed,” he said.
Ryan Thayer, who had been with the department for three years, submitted a short letter to Police Chief Gary Boldizsar last week saying he was quitting for “personal” reasons.
The department opened an investigation into the matter late last month. Thayer, 25, was accused of having sex with the woman while he was on duty, lying to supervisors about his whereabouts and activities, disobeying orders and using a department cell phone to talk with the woman.
In all, Thayer was accused of violating 21 department regulations, said Lt. Ron Noble, a department spokesman.
“Nobody in the city of Corvallis would expect to pay a police officer on duty to engage in that kind of conduct,” Noble said, adding that Thayer’s resignation was “the right thing for him to do.”
Thayer — who is married and has children, according to Noble — declined to comment Tuesday. Police union officials could not be contacted.
The department first suspected something was amiss March 20, when a supervisor thought he had caught Thayer in a lie, Noble said. Two days later, someone tipped authorities off about the alleged relationship.
Officials placed Thayer on administrative leave March 24 and then called off the investigation after he quit.
Police did not disclose the name or age of the woman involved, and Noble said he did not know exactly how long the relationship may have been going on.
Noble said there is no indication that the officer used his position as leverage in the relationship.
The department is also investigating Thayer and several other officers for the way they responded to a college party where many coeds wore only their underwear or lingerie.
Shortly after the incident, photos of the officers and lingerie-clad college women appeared on the social Web site MySpace, according to an internal document released by the department.
Police officials are still trying to determine whether the officers purposely posed with the women or acted inappropriately.
During his time on the force, Thayer received four commendations, including letters from residents, applauding his professionalism and community service, department records show.
Noble said there have been no similar incidents of sexual misconduct during his 18 years with the force. The Thayer investigation, he said, “is not representative of the Corvallis Police Department.”
“We’re extremely disappointed and, quite frankly, we’re embarrassed,” he said.