Cop obtained drugs from pill take-backs, other police agencies, reports say
A statement from the office of Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said the "matter remains under review."
United States News
See other United States News Articles
Title: No jail time for cop who took pills from drug take-backs
Source:
M Live
URL Source: http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/ind ... il_time_for_cop_that_plea.html
Published: Dec 19, 2017
Author: Roberto Acosta
Post Date: 2017-12-21 05:30:50 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 374
Comments: 3
FLINT, MI -- Former Burton police Detective Shawn Duncanson will have charges dropped and avoid jail if he follows the conditions of probation after pleading guilty to taking pills from prescription drug take-back boxes at local departments. Genesee District Judge Mark W. Latchana sentenced Duncanson Tuesday, Dec. 19, to one year of non-reporting probation, which requires Duncanson to abstain from alcohol or drug use, attend weekly support group meetings, individual counseling, random drug tests and review hearings with the court. "The court is familiar with Detective Duncanson and his work at the police department, as well as his personal situation," said Latchana. "I'm also familiar with people that suffer from addiction and I can tell you that from my experience that problem runs across every social and economic barrier that there is." Police reports obtained by MLive-Flint Journal from the Michigan State Police through a Freedom of Information Act request allege Duncanson approached multiple police agencies and offered to dispose of any prescription drugs that may have been turned into their departments. However, he was actually keeping the drugs for what he claimed was his own personal use. Burton Police Chief Tom Osterholzer previously told MLive-Flint Journal an investigation was launched Jan. 31 by his department after being made aware of accusations involving Duncanson. An investigation was launched by Michigan State Police on Feb. 1. The case was turned over to Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton's office in April, MSP Detective Joe Cavanaugh previously told MLive-The Flint Journal. Duncanson was placed on administrative leave Jan. 31, according to an incident report from Michigan State Police, and interviewed by two Burton police lieutenants. "During the interview Sgt. Duncanson admitted to contacting other county police agencies in an attempt to collect their prescription medications. Sgt. Duncanson stated he intended to start a business," the reports claim. However, the reports show he allegedly later acknowledged to investigators he took pills collected from the departments and the Burton Senior Center, as well as Vicodin -- a prescription opiate -- from evidence for his own personal use. Duncanson denied to investigators that he sold or gave away any of the pills he collected. He resigned from the department on June 2, three days ahead of a disciplinary hearing in front of the Burton police chief and the city's labor attorney. A plea deal was accepted by the court in October in which Duncanson pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of willful neglect of duty and use of a controlled substance. Duncanson was ordered to relinquish his police officer certification as part of the deal. Frank J. Manley, Duncanson's attorney, said in court Tuesday that the former detective has dedicated his life to public service and is "a very good person." "Having said (that), anybody and everybody is subject, nobody is immune to the pressures of life and the struggles that may, in fact, involve substances," Manley told the court. "Mr. Duncanson understands that he has recognized it and accepted it, and has done everything possible to avoid being involved in any type of substance abuse." Latchana, who has run the county's drug court program for more than five years, noted while some in the public may hold Duncanson to a different standard because of his law enforcement background. "In my view, that has no impact on how we proceed here," Latchana said. "The goal of any sentence or delay in sentence for a drug court program, as far as I'm concerned, is to address the individual person's needs and ensure that those are met so they are not involved in this process or system anymore," said Latchana. "That's certainly the goal in this particular case." Some Genesee County police departments, including Genesee Township, have changed their procedures in how prescription drugs turned over are disposed of after Duncanson had contacted them offering to destroy them. The offer was attractive to some departments due to the elimination of local incinerators that were once made available to police agencies to dispose of the drugs. Genesee Township police Chief John Mullaly, whose department handed drugs over to Duncanson, previously said it was "a rare thing" to give prescription drugs to an officer from an outside agency, but the offer saved his department from trying to track down a disposal site after the incinerator at Genesee County Animal Control was taken out of service in recent years.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 2.
#1. To: Gatlin, GrandIsland, misterwhite (#0)
However, he was actually keeping the drugs for what he claimed was his own personal use. Another hypocrite cop - arresting people for possessing a plant while stealing drugs from his employer. Former Burton police Detective Shawn Duncanson will have charges dropped and avoid jail if he follows the conditions of probation after pleading guilty to taking pills from prescription drug take-back boxes at local departments. Imagine my surprise.
Human nature. You will find corruption in every business type among every ethnic group and every sex. Faggots and normal people.
#3. To: A K A Stone (#2)
Yes, but serfs actually serve time for their crimes.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestPolice reports obtained by MLive-Flint Journal from the Michigan State Police through a Freedom of Information Act request allege Duncanson approached multiple police agencies and offered to dispose of any prescription drugs that may have been turned into their departments.
#2. To: Deckard (#1)
Replies to Comment # 2. You will find corruption in every business type among every ethnic group and every sex.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 2.
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]