Post by WaTcHeR on Feb 14, 2007 12:52:05 GMT -5
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. - Several Mount Pleasant police officers watched movies, played football and slept while on duty, according to an internal investigation.
Four officers resigned and a fifth was fired when she would not step down, acting Police Chief Harry Sewell said Monday.
The police department started the internal investigation on Jan. 24 after an unidentified rookie officer told his superiors about the misconduct when he was asked to rate his training.
An unidentified trainee told investigators he watched the movie "Talladega Nights" with two other officers at one of the officer's home while they were all on duty, according to the investigation.
Another statement from an unidentified trainee said he played touch football with three other officers early one morning by the light of a cruiser.
The report also detailed officers sleeping on duty and failing to document incidents and vehicle searches.
Field Training Officer Todd White, Pfc. Timothy Webb, Pfc. Carl Muirhead and Field Training Officer Samuel Tillman resigned Jan. 29. Pfc. Natasha Hopps was fired Jan. 30 after refusing to resign.
Hopps said her firing was changed to a resignation after she filed a grievance with the town. An unidentified sergeant also was suspended for one day for allowing three or more officers to meet for meals while on duty.
The actions of the officers show problems with the culture of the entire Mount Pleasant Police Department, according to Hopps, who said she was speaking for all five officers, because the other four did not want to speak publicly as they look for other law enforcement jobs.
"I have no previous experience. When I came to the department, this is how I learned to behave," Hopps said.
Hopps and the other officers had all been on the force less than five years.
The results of the investigation were released after The (Charleston) Post and Courier and the Moultrie News in Mount Pleasant filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/16685488.htm
Four officers resigned and a fifth was fired when she would not step down, acting Police Chief Harry Sewell said Monday.
The police department started the internal investigation on Jan. 24 after an unidentified rookie officer told his superiors about the misconduct when he was asked to rate his training.
An unidentified trainee told investigators he watched the movie "Talladega Nights" with two other officers at one of the officer's home while they were all on duty, according to the investigation.
Another statement from an unidentified trainee said he played touch football with three other officers early one morning by the light of a cruiser.
The report also detailed officers sleeping on duty and failing to document incidents and vehicle searches.
Field Training Officer Todd White, Pfc. Timothy Webb, Pfc. Carl Muirhead and Field Training Officer Samuel Tillman resigned Jan. 29. Pfc. Natasha Hopps was fired Jan. 30 after refusing to resign.
Hopps said her firing was changed to a resignation after she filed a grievance with the town. An unidentified sergeant also was suspended for one day for allowing three or more officers to meet for meals while on duty.
The actions of the officers show problems with the culture of the entire Mount Pleasant Police Department, according to Hopps, who said she was speaking for all five officers, because the other four did not want to speak publicly as they look for other law enforcement jobs.
"I have no previous experience. When I came to the department, this is how I learned to behave," Hopps said.
Hopps and the other officers had all been on the force less than five years.
The results of the investigation were released after The (Charleston) Post and Courier and the Moultrie News in Mount Pleasant filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/16685488.htm