Cop Loses Badge, Gun While Investigation Continues into Trespass Claim

This article was originally published on Jan. 17:

An East Hampton Village police officer has been relieved from duty and is on leave and another village employee has been fired following a complaint of criminal trespass at a house in the village late last month. 

According to a previously released incident report, the two were caught a house on Talmage Lane after guest of the homeowner arrived on Dec. 30 at about 11 a.m.  They did not have the homeowner's permission to be there, according to police. 

Neither the 31-year-old officer nor the woman, whom Chief Jerry Larsen described as a 20-year-old part-time civilian employee, have been charged. 

"At this point in time criminal charges have yet to be filed in the case at the request of the property owner; however, this will not preclude the department from filing misconduct or other charges in the case, should they be warranted," Larsen said. 

The village is prohibited from releasing the officer's name. 

Meanwhile, the employment of Jennifer Rosa, a part-time traffic control officer, was terminated, a move approved by the East Hampton Village Board at their monthly meeting on Friday morning effective retroactively to Dec. 30.

The woman was allegedly a part-time house cleaner at the residence, Larsen said. 

The officer, a 9-year employee, was relieved of his badge and firearm on Dec. 30 and he remains on leave, Larsen said. 

An internal investigation of the incident is continuing, and further departmental action against the officer is expected, Larsen said in a statement on Friday. 

They have not been charged, though the initial incident report stated the homeowner did wish to pursue charges.