Defense: Alcoholism, death, sexual assault, mental illness in family create ‘perfect storm’ for officer
By Bob Peryea
CORRESPONDENT
At a hearing Monday, the Town of Delavan Police and Fire Commission heard about the troubled life of a township police officer accused of misconduct in office and the Police Department’s claim that it can no longer trust him.
After hours of testimony, attorney’s statements and inquiries, the commission adjourned its hearing to determine whether to terminate Officer Jeremiah Burdick. The commission will reconvene at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 19 at Delavan Town Hall to make its decision.
The hearing was conducted to respond to Town of Delavan Police Chief Philip Smith’s call for Burdick’s termination. Smith alleged that Burdick violated 13 town ordinances and brought “discredit and disrepute” upon himself and the department.
According to charges made by Smith, Burdick allegedly went to the Vegas Gentlemen’s Club in Darien on Aug. 12. There he behaved inappropriately and rudely to the patrons, employees and security personnel. He is accused of urinating in public, using his badge to gain entrance to the club and using his status as a police officer as reason for this behavior. He was also accused of having consumed too much alcohol and having open containers in his vehicle.
Burdick had originally maintained his innocence of all of the charges, particularly stating that he did not “flash his badge” to gain entrance and that he did not have his badge with him that night.
During the hearing, Burdick’s attorney, Scott Schroeder, of Janesville, in his opening statement said that Burdick admitted he has an alcohol problem and takes full responsibility for his actions on that night.
Attorney Jim Korom, of Burlington, who represented the Police Department and Smith, pointed to what he perceived as inconsistencies in the timeline of Burdick’s assertions.
Korom opened the hearing with a statement that acknowledged that Burdick knew what he had done was wrong.
“He agreed that his conduct was distasteful, inappropriate and criminal,” Korom said.
He reminded the commission of what he felt was their mission at the hearing.
“Your focus is not on what’s best for Officer Burdick,” he said. “The focus is on the good of the service.”
Korom said that Burdick claimed to not remember most of the night.
To read the rest of this story please pick up the Dec. 13 edition of the Delavan Enterprise.
