CAMDEN, Del. (AP) - A Delaware police officer has been convicted of misdemeanor misconduct in office, reportedly after failing to properly document use of force reports involving a potential hire at his previous job running a Maryland police department.
Camden Police Lt. Michael Petyo pleaded guilty to the charge last week, dating back to his time as the police chief in Greensboro, Maryland, the Delaware State News reported. Petyo made “factual misrepresentations in an Application for Certification, which he filed on behalf of one of his police officers,” Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton Howard’s office said in a statement.
He’s been sentenced to two years in prison, both suspended, and three years’ supervised probation.
Petyo was placed on paid administrative leave in November as Maryland authorities investigated his handling of officer Thomas W. Webster IV’s certification application, in which Petyo made “intentional misrepresentations and factual omissions,” according to a statement of facts presented in court.
The newspaper reported that Petyo was accused of omitting information about 29 use of force reports that had been filed against Webster from his time as a Dover police officer.
Webster received provisional certification in January 2018. It’s unclear whether he still works for Greensboro police.
Petyo joined Camden police in January 2019. The status of his internal investigation there hasn’t been publicly updated.
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