Holly MatkinWarner Robins, GA – The entire Warner Robins Police Department (WRPD) Narcotics Investigation Unit has been placed on administrative leave amid allegations of police misconduct.
Houston County District Attorney William Kendall said in a press release on April 24 that he was notified on April 11 about allegations of misconduct being levied against the WRPD’s six-member drug unit, WAGA reported.
Kendall said he notified WRPD Chief Roy Whitehead about the undisclosed allegations the following day.
Chief Whitehead subsequently placed the entire Narcotics Investigation Unit (NIU) on paid administrative leave “out of caution,” the district attorney said, according to WMAZ.
“Currently, no charges have been brought,” Kendall said. “I take allegations of wrongdoing by law enforcement very seriously. Although I support our local law enforcement, I am duty-bound and obligated to investigate any alleged wrongdoing by law enforcement, and I intend to do my job.”
The district attorney said that if “a thorough investigation” determines any of the members of the NIU broke the law, the case will be presented to a Houston County grand jury, WMAZ reported.
“If no violations of law are found, the investigation will be turned over to the Warner Robins Police Chief for an internal review of any policy violations,” he added.
Chief Whitehead confirmed the officers’ suspensions in a statement.
“As soon as we were made aware of the investigation, we moved swiftly to place the NIU on administrative leave,” the chief said, according to WMAZ. “We take these matters very seriously, and we will ensure that the appropriate actions will be taken as a result should the district attorney find any wrongdoing.”
Kendall and Chief Whitehead did not release any details regarding the allegations levied against the officers.
But a woman told WMAZ in an interview that she was recently riding in a vehicle with her boyfriend when he was pulled over and arrested.
She said investigators found drugs in his vehicle, and that they tried to force her to sell the drugs to help with their investigation, WMAZ reported.
The district attorney did not deny or confirm the woman’s account of what allegedly occurred, according to the news outlet.
Kendall said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the case and that they hope to have more solid details by the end of May, The Telegraph reported.
“This is just like any other case for us, regardless of whether police officers are involved,” he told the paper. “If people are found to have violated laws, then we’ll hold them accountable.”
Sandy Malone