Updated: Sexting With Suspect Leads to Officer's Resignation

Updated 10:50 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 15: The police officer who resigned as a result of an internal misconduct investigation in September has been identified as David Young.

According to a TMJ4 report, Young asked a 23-year-old jewelry theft suspect to send him pictures of herself and the two exchanged multiple text messages, some of which were sexually explicit.

Original story: A 29-year-old Greenfield Police Department officer resigned after the department discovered he was involved with a female theft suspect, including sending sexually explicit text messages. 

The officer resigned Sept. 7, during the department's internal misconduct investigation into his inappropriate relationship with the suspect, acording to a news release issued Tuesday by the department.

“The Greenfield Police Department values the high level of trust and confidence placed in our officers by the community stakeholders we serve and we are fortunate that the vast majority of police officers are honest, loyal and exhibit the highest level of honor and professionalism,” Greenfield Police Chief Brad Wentlandt said in a statement. “All members of the department expect that their coworkers will abide by the law enforcement code of ethics and our standards of conduct.

“The officer involved in this matter clearly engaged in behavior which does not conform to the high level of standards we expect of our personnel. His actions are an anomaly and do not represent the fine men and women of this agency.”

An internal investigation, triggered by an anonymous third-party tip, uncovered the officer, who had less than six years of experience with the department, had contact with the female suspect of a jewelry theft case during that case’s investigation Aug. 21.

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According to police, the female later initiated phone contact with the officer while he was on duty. The two agreed to have further phone contact while the officer was off‐duty.

On Aug. 22, the officer and female suspect exchanged several text messages including photos. The messages from the officer included several which were sexually explicit, the department said.

After investigators obtained the evidence, the officer was placed on administrative leave, or suspended with pay, on his next workday, which was Aug. 26.

Investigators completed their investigation Sept. 4. According to the press release, Wentlandt planned to file charges for the officer’s termination to the Greenfield Police and Fire Commission at its Sept. 10 meeting on the grounds the officer violated the department’s rules and standards of conduct related to inappropriate contact with suspects.

The officer resigned Sept. 7, effective Sept. 9.

The release added the female suspect was initially unwilling to cooperate with the investigation but was convinced to do so by investigators. No formal complaint of misconduct was ever received, the release said.