DURHAM (WTVD) -- Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez addressed an internal investigation involving several of his officers, some of them high ranking, Friday morning.
ABC11 first learned about the investigation in February. Both current and former employees connected to the department, but not directly involved in the investigation, alleged several officers had sold seized weapons on a popular firearms website frequented by the law enforcement community.
But Lopez said Friday there is no evidence guns or gun parts were sold. He said the investigation did find that department employees and officers kept some gun parts for use on their department-issued and personal weapons.
Lopez said while such activity had been permitted in the past, it is now in violation of a court order that states seized weapons must be destroyed. Lopez said the officers apparently acted with a genuine belief their actions were appropriate, but they should have known the rules.
"I expect this lapse of judgment to be isolated," he said.
Lopez said 11 employees were investigated and seven now face disciplinary action ranging from reprimands to suspensions based on their level of involvement and rank:
Capt. Kevin Cates - suspended
Lt. George Zeipekkis - suspended
Sgt. Nicholas Schneider - suspended
Sgt. Joseph Piatt - suspended
Officer Christopher Wiesemann - suspended
Reserve Officer William Evans - written reprimand/suspension from off-duty work for one month
Robert Rowley, Armorer - suspended
But Lopez said Friday there is no evidence guns or gun parts were sold. He said the investigation did find that department employees and officers kept some gun parts for use on their department-issued and personal weapons.
Lopez said while such activity had been permitted in the past, it is now in violation of a court order that states seized weapons must be destroyed. Lopez said the officers apparently acted with a genuine belief their actions were appropriate, but they should have known the rules.
"I expect this lapse of judgment to be isolated," he said.
Lopez said 11 employees were investigated and seven now face disciplinary action ranging from reprimands to suspensions based on their level of involvement and rank:
Capt. Kevin Cates - suspended
Lt. George Zeipekkis - suspended
Sgt. Nicholas Schneider - suspended
Sgt. Joseph Piatt - suspended
Officer Christopher Wiesemann - suspended
Reserve Officer William Evans - written reprimand/suspension from off-duty work for one month
Robert Rowley, Armorer - suspended
(Copyright ©2014 WTVD-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
Now READ Some Facebook comments
Like · Reply · 7 · Yesterday at 3:20pm · Edited
David Bower What these officers did amounts to stealing from your employer. Weather these guns were supposed to be destroyed or sold, they were not just for their taking. And as their tax paying boss I say they should be fired.
Like · Reply · 5 · Yesterday at 6:57pm
Wendy Oneal Punished how time off with pay wow
Like · Reply · 5 · Yesterday at 3:04pm
Patricia Gaughan No one should be treated above the law... especially the ones who help enforce it. I have no respect for dirty cops!
Like · Reply · 4 · Yesterday at 4:40pm
Tyler Haskins hope their cars explode
Like · Reply · 3 · Yesterday at 2:58pm
Adul Siler It basically was just not doing the right paperwork. The law states now that these weapons can not be destroyed now. Either to be used by the police or sold to a dealer. Everyone so quick to call the police bad but when your house or car is shot at in Durham you'll be screaming they did not get to you fast enough.
Like · Reply · 2 · Yesterday at 7:09pm
Robby Woods Good ole Durham pd
Like · Reply · 1 · 23 hours ago
Paul Andrews Ignorance is no excuse for the law; I've heard said !
Like · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 6:04pm
Michael Adams So they would rather destroy the guns than to let officers use them explain that to me?
Like · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 4:31pm
Boyd Moore And this is Breaking News??
Like · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 4:21pm
Nick MacKinnon Well it did just break.
Like · Yesterday at 4:32pm
Chad Harris Who gives a rip. The police can do what they want. I don't care. Sell em, shoot em. Police officers are human too. The have desires and want gain as well. Blah blah blah. I think we have a bigger problem with the sales of crack cocaine in the streets of Durham. That's where the big issue is. Crack sales and availability causes crime and ruins lives. Not officers using or selling guns. Where's the priority here???
Like · Reply · 9 hrs
Pat Caldwell SHHHHHHH can't tell You.
Like · Reply · 23 hours ago
James Pohaku Waialae Bero I agree with Boyd Moore. Enough said.
Like · Reply · Yesterday at 4:55pm
Michael 'Anjel' Hamilton What is it that they say... ah yes: Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
Like · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 3:12pm
Craig Hensel exactly!
Like · Yesterday at 7:08pm
Craig Hensel uh yeah, they should be destroyed and parts should be requisitioned from legitimate sources, because then there's a paper trail that can be followed. Where did these seized guns come from? Were they registered? Illegal? How do you know for sure some of these parts weren't sold online? Yeah its more work but a police force needs solidarity, they're human beings and just as capable of breaking the law as any other person, and if we all have to go through that crap, so should they.
Like · Reply · Yesterday at 7:16pm · Edited
