Post by Critique on Jan 10, 2007 15:49:26 GMT -5
January 3, 2007
Nathan Frick
Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., police officer Lieutenant James Leamon faces a domestic violence charge after police say he was involved in an incident with his wife early New Year's Day.
Lt. Leamon, a 10-year-veteran of the department, is accused of beating up his wife.
He is on paid administrative leave, and depending on the outcome of an internal affairs investigation and court proceedings, he could be out of a job and in jail.
Catoosa County deputies were called to a home on Becky Drive for a domestic violence dispute at 5:30 a.m. Monday morning.
"There was an altercation at his residence between him and his wife and there was alcohol involved," Ft. Oglethorpe Police Chief Larry Black said.
Officers on the scene learned the alleged aggressor is a fellow officer, Lt. Leamon of the Fort Oglethorpe police department. Deputies say there were clear signs Leamon had beaten up his wife, such as evidence of bruising.
Deputies interviewed Leamon's wife on the scene.
Under Georgia's Domestic Violence law, even if the victim doesn't press charges, officers are required to make an arrest if they can determine two things: 1) A primary aggressor and
2) A sign of abuse.
Chief Black says both signs were there.
"The [responding] officer is mandated by the state," Chief Black said. "He must take action, the [responding] officer doesn't have a lot of discretion when it comes to family violence."
Leamon is a shift supervisor of the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department.
The battery charge was filed in the same department Leamon works for and the Ft. Oglethorpe police department will be conducting its' own investigation, without the help of the Georgia Bureau of Investgation.
Chief Black says Leamon will not get preferential treatment. "There is a very high standard in law enforcement. We take that very seriously and we have to look into these incidents when it happens, even when it involves one of our own people," Black said.
If Lt. Leamon is found guilty on the charge, he will automatically be out of a job in Georgia.
Anytime a police officer is convicted on a domestic charge, he or she is banned from serving in any police department in the state.
NewsChannel 9 did attempt to contact Lt. Leamon and his wife. We did not hear back from them.
www.newschannel9.com/onset?id=8632&template=article.html
Nathan Frick
Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., police officer Lieutenant James Leamon faces a domestic violence charge after police say he was involved in an incident with his wife early New Year's Day.
Lt. Leamon, a 10-year-veteran of the department, is accused of beating up his wife.
He is on paid administrative leave, and depending on the outcome of an internal affairs investigation and court proceedings, he could be out of a job and in jail.
Catoosa County deputies were called to a home on Becky Drive for a domestic violence dispute at 5:30 a.m. Monday morning.
"There was an altercation at his residence between him and his wife and there was alcohol involved," Ft. Oglethorpe Police Chief Larry Black said.
Officers on the scene learned the alleged aggressor is a fellow officer, Lt. Leamon of the Fort Oglethorpe police department. Deputies say there were clear signs Leamon had beaten up his wife, such as evidence of bruising.
Deputies interviewed Leamon's wife on the scene.
Under Georgia's Domestic Violence law, even if the victim doesn't press charges, officers are required to make an arrest if they can determine two things: 1) A primary aggressor and
2) A sign of abuse.
Chief Black says both signs were there.
"The [responding] officer is mandated by the state," Chief Black said. "He must take action, the [responding] officer doesn't have a lot of discretion when it comes to family violence."
Leamon is a shift supervisor of the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department.
The battery charge was filed in the same department Leamon works for and the Ft. Oglethorpe police department will be conducting its' own investigation, without the help of the Georgia Bureau of Investgation.
Chief Black says Leamon will not get preferential treatment. "There is a very high standard in law enforcement. We take that very seriously and we have to look into these incidents when it happens, even when it involves one of our own people," Black said.
If Lt. Leamon is found guilty on the charge, he will automatically be out of a job in Georgia.
Anytime a police officer is convicted on a domestic charge, he or she is banned from serving in any police department in the state.
NewsChannel 9 did attempt to contact Lt. Leamon and his wife. We did not hear back from them.
www.newschannel9.com/onset?id=8632&template=article.html