UPD sergeant suspended for misconduct

A sergeant at the Utica Police Department has been suspended without pay after escalating a situation and making inappropriate comments while on a call.

A 19-year veteran of the department for his conduct on a call on blandina street, in late august.

It's the second time in about two weeks, that the city is seeking to terminate an officer for his conduct on a call.

Newschannel 2's joleen ferris is live in the studio with the details.

Joleen?

Sgt.

Sam geddes is a former marine and 19-year veteran of upd.

He responded, as the supervisor, to a larceny call.

Things quickly escalated.

There was yelling between the sgt.

And the woman who made the call to report someone had driven off in a car with her medicine in it.

Then, a man walked up, wanting to press charges against the woman, for allegedly stealing a gold chain from him.

The situation disintegrated, essentially, into a verbal brawl between the sgt and the woman.

The sgt used objectionable language, and, used pepper spray when the woman was on an upstairs porch, several feet away.

A 26:34 "come down here, son.

Come down here, son.

I'll stomy.

None 28:28 "it's only to be used in defense in yourself or another.

From what we saw in the video, the best course of action would have been to drive away" 29:02 "it's not only the language he uses, but also, you expect him to de- escalate the situation; tone it down" > the sgt.

Is supspended 30 days without pay.

After that, he would be placed on paid administrative leave until that hearing takes place.

No one knows exactly when that will be, but likely several months.

Chief says the pba union is fighting this.

Back to you.

Another night