The Chittenden County prosecutor has started dismissing criminal cases that were investigated by a Colchester cop accused of giving another cop a break after a DWI stop. Prosecutor T.J. Donovan says he has no choice since the Colchester cop's credibility is an issue.
It's been nearly three months since a Colchester officer failed to process an off-duty Burlington cop he pulled over for suspected DWI. The incident has already cost two Burlington cops their jobs. But Colchester officials have yet to release any findings of their investigation and their delay means up to a dozen people charged with drunk driving could get off scot-free.
"As much as I don't want to dismiss this case, when I'm on notice that an officer's creditability is at issue, I'm obligated to investigate that matter," explained Donovan.
Donovan says the very last thing he wanted to do was dismiss a charge of drunk driving second offense. Court records say the suspect was twice the legal limit when she was stopped-- arrested and processed by a Colchester officer in late November. The problem is-- it's the same Colchester cop who failed to process off-duty Burlington officer Don Lilja in early November for suspected DWI. Soon after the incident became public, the 24-year-veteran Lilja resigned and apologized. Another Burlington officer has acknowledged he was fired after the internal investigation. But nearly three months later, Colchester Police Chief Chuck Kirker and Town Manager Al Voegele have failed to release anything about their investigation of the Colchester cop. Donovan says that leaves him no choice but to begin dismissing all of the Colchester cop's pending cases-- about a dozen -- most of them for drunk driving like the first one dismissed today.
"We dismissed it because the lead officer is under investigation. And until that particular officer is cleared, that case will remain dismissed. If he were to be cleared we always retain the right to bring that case back."
Asked what "cleared" means, Donovan replied, "What's at issue is the officer's credibility."
Authorities have not revealed the identity of the Colchester officer-- even today.
But he was clearly identified in the DWI paperwork as officer Dale Trombley. State records show he was certified in 2002 and served in Montpelier before joining the Colchester force about three years ago.
We left word with the Colchester police to contact Officer Trombley to get his side of the story. No word yet. Phone messages left for Town Manager Al Voegele and Chief Kirker were not returned. Brian Joyce - WCAX News
Posted by: Inspector
Officers fired in DWI Flap.
It's been nearly three months since Colchester Police officer Dale Trombley stopped an off duty Burlington cop outside a Colchester restaurant for suspected DWI. Now, eleven weeks later, three officers have lost their jobs and questions remain about whether more officers may be implicated.
For Brian McNeil, a member of the Colchester Selectboard, several issues remain unsettled. "Does this go up the chain of command in Colchester? Was there anyone else involved in this decision?" He questioned.
Colchester town manager Al Voegele officially dismissed Trombley late Friday afternoon, but waited until 1 a.m. Saturday to notify Channel 3 News. He did not respond to numerous phone calls Friday and Saturday seeking comment.
Many town residents and select board members Channel 3 spoke with say they're upset it took the Department so long to complete it's internal investigation and that town leaders waited so long to discuss what happened. "It was going to come out. You're just making a worse name for yourself, trying to hide, corrupt," said Colchester resident Brian Bean.
"It shouldn't have taken that long. If it was you or me it wouldn't have been that long," said resident Brian Landry.
In the written statement released late last night, Voegele said, "We realize that this process was long, but we believe that it was appropriately deliberative. Our job was to find the truth and to take action to protect the integrity of the Colchester Police Department." While the internal investigation may be over, the controversy surrounding this case is not. Trombley now has five days to appeal his dismissal to the Colchester Board of Selectmen.
In the meantime, many in this community are still talking about the case and debating whether or not firing Trombley was the right thing to do.
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