Town of Delavan police officer suspended
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TOWN OF DELAVAN — A town of Delavan police officer will have a chance Dec. 10 to explain what happened the night he is accused of violating 13 department policies at the Vegas Gentleman’s Club.
The town police and fire commission will hold an evidentiary hearing Dec. 10 for officer Jeremiah Burdick. He is accused of a list of violations including harassing staff and patrons, using his police identification to avoid paying a cover charge and urinating in the strip club’s parking lot, according to a charging document filed by Town of Delavan Police Chief Phillip Smith.
Burdick was at the club Aug. 12. Walworth County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene, ticketed Burdick and waited until he got a ride home. Burdick on Aug. 15 was put on leave from the department, according to the charging document.
Weeks before the Aug. 12 incident, Burdick was warned for similar inappropriate behavior in public, according to the charging document. He also was suspended for four days in 2008 for an off-duty violation at the Town of Delavan Fire Department.
According to the charging document:
Burdick admitted he was “over the limit” when he drove to the Vegas Gentlemens Club, he told police. He showed his police identification card to door staff. He asked for and accepted free admission.
Inside the club, Burdick was “loud and obnoxious.” He shouted obscenities at dancers. He touched the face of a female patron. He used the N-word.
When a bar patron left his seat, Burdick drank out of the man’s glass. When the man returned, Burdick leaned into him until their shoulders were touching. When the patron asked Burdick to stop, Burdick swore at him.
The man called police.
At that point, Burdick left the club with an open beer in his hand, ignoring the bouncer who shouted at him to leave the drink inside.
Burdick said something to the effect of, “It’s OK. I’m a cop,” to the bouncer.
When he got outside, he urinated. Deputies arrived while he was doing so.
When deputies approached Burdick, he got aggressive. He lied and said he didn’t have any intoxicants in his vehicle. Deputies found several full bottles of beer.
Burdick was so intoxicated he had a hard time using his cellphone to call for a ride. He also kept losing a shoe, according to the charging document.
Two days later, Burdick downplayed the event when Smith interviewed him. He said he had had too much to drink and had to call for a ride home.
Burdick is accused of violating state statutes prohibiting disorderly conduct or harassment. He is accused of violating a county ordinance prohibiting possession of open intoxicants in public.
He is accused of violating Town of Delavan Police Department policies including one prohibiting officers from accepting material benefits, one requiring officers to avoid behavior that could bring the department into disrepute and one requiring officers to always cooperate with police from other agencies.
Walworth County deputies ticketed Burdick for disorderly conduct and for having an open intoxicant in public, according to online court documents.
On Oct. 24, he pleaded not guilty to both charges.
A trial is scheduled for Dec. 12 in Walworth County Court, according to online court records.
The Dec. 10 evidentiary hearing regarding the policy violations will be open to the public, Burdick’s attorney Scott Schroeder said.
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