Baltimore Officer Suspended Without Pay For Alleged On-Duty Sexual Assault
BALTIMORE (WJZ)--Taking a stand against officers that break the law. Baltimore's new city police commissioner took the unusual step of announcing an investigation against one of his own.
Meghan McCorkell has more on the message he's sending.
Commissioner Anthony Batts says he won't put up with misconduct. This latest investigation is one in a series of high-profile incidents involving police officers.
A 13-year veteran of the police force is off the streets. Elliott Simon, 39, was accused of sexual assault with an 18-year-old girl while he was on duty. Batts himself made the announcement.
"This agency is committed to holding people accountable for misconduct. I have no tolerance for misconduct or officers that violate the public trust," Batts said.
A complaint against Simon was filed this weekend. The officer, who works out of the Northwest District police station, was suspended without pay.
It's the same precinct where Officer Daniel Redd was convicted of selling drugs out of the parking lot. Redd, the mastermind behind a heroin ring, is serving 20 years behind bars. It's a case that outraged the neighborhood and the police commissioner at the time, Fred Bealefeld.
"It makes all of them look bad," said one resident.
"We just can't give order to corruption. We can't and won't," Bealefeld said.
Bealefeld took those words seriously, taking the badges of officers involved in a towing scheme that ripped off drivers.
In council hearings, the new commissioner vowed to follow in those footsteps.
"Officers will be held accountable to the highest ethical standards," Batts said.
This latest incident of alleged misconduct has now been forwarded to the State's Attorney's Office to decide whether charges will be filed against Simon.
Police are not offering any other information about the case surrounding Simon since it is still an active investigation.
