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WEBVTT TWO BURLINGTON POLICE OFFICERS -- ARE FACING POTENTIAL DISCIPLINARY ACTION... AFTER THE POLICE CHIEF SAYS THEY WERE CAUGHT DRINKING BEER -- THAT THEY CONFISCATED FROM MINORS... NBC 5'S LIZ STRZEPA JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SHE SPOKE TO CHIEF DEL POZO. LIZ - WHEN DO THEY BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED? . LEE ANNE AND BRIAN -- THIS ALL STEMS FROM A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP LAST MONTH...TWO MINORS WERE PULLED OVER -- AND THE OFFICERS FOUND AT LEAST ONE -- IF NOT TWO 30 PACKS OF BEER IN THE CAR... THE MINORS WERE ISSUED TICKETS FOR UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL -- AND THE BEER WAS CONFISCATED. BURLINGTON POLICE CHIEF BRANDON DEL POZO SAYS INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING PROTOCOL AND DISPOSING THE BEER, THE OFFICERS ALLEGEDLY DRANK IT WHILE OFF DUTY... OTHER OFFICERS WHO LEARNED ABOUT THE ALLEGED INCIDENT REPORTED IT UP THE DEPARTMENT'S CHAIN OF COMMAND -- WHICH RESULTED IN THE INTERNAL INVESTIGATION. DEL POZO SAYS THE ALLEGATIONS -- ARE UPSETTING 09:52:09:09 TO BE CLEAR WE EXPECT OFFICERS WHO SEIZE PROPERTY TO ALWAYS ACCOUNT FOR THE PROPERTY AND WHEN THEY HAVE TO DISPOSE OF IT, DISPOSE OF IT IN SHORT ORDER RATHER THAN CONSUME IT AND IF THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE SUBSTANTIATED OVER THE COURSE OF -- AT THE END OF OUR INVESTIGATION THERE WILL BE DISCIPLINE. ABSOLUTELY. THE POLICE CHIEF SAYS THE PUNISHMENT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM A WARNING TO TERMINATION... THE INTERNAL INVESTIGATION IS EXPECTED TO WRAP UP WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. LIVE IN BURLINGTON, LIZ STRZEPA, NBC5 NEWS.

Advertisement Police officers disciplined for taking beer from minors, drinking it off duty Police Chief Brandon del Pozo said the officers' misconduct violates department procedure Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Two Burlington police officers have been disciplined for confiscating beer from minors and drinking it while off duty.Police Chief Brandon del Pozo said the incident took place last month.He notified the public about the incident on Tuesday.According to del Pozo, an investigation was opened after other officers learned of the incident and reported it to commanders.Del Pozo said that rather than disposing of the beer, as required by department procedure, the officers drank it.He did not say what kind of beer was taken or what the value was.The officers, who were not identified, were initially placed on paid administrative duty as the department investigated the allegations.Del Pozo said Friday the investigation determined the allegations were accurate.The officers involved were suspended for three weeks without pay.They will also be on probationary service for the next year.Del Pozo said if there is additional misconduct during the probationary period, the officers will be fired.“Even beer destined for the sewer must be handled with integrity by police officers,” del Pozo said. “The officers who improperly consumed beer confiscated from minors were forthcoming and contrite about what they had done. They understood that their actions were injurious to the reputation of all police officers, and could have cost them their jobs. 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.”No other information about the incident was released.