A veteran Winfield police officer has been disciplined by the department ? and entered a diversion program on a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge ? for unprofessional conduct while on duty last week, police and court officials said.
Shawn Love, who has been with the department for more than a decade, was the subject of disciplinary action, police chief Danny Parker confirmed Wednesday. Parker would not comment on the specifics of the punishment but said he was confident it was sufficient.
"I think we made it stiff enough," he said. "I certainly didn’t want the public to think he was above anyone else."
If Love completes the diversion program without incident, the disorderly conduct charge against him will be dropped, county attorney Chris Smith said. The charge against Love is a class C misdemeanor, usually punishable by a $100 fine.
Smith said a civilian demonstrating the same behavior would likely just pay the fine or not be charged at all. He agreed with Parker’s assessment that Love was held to a higher standard because he is a police officer.
"I’m not sure your average citizen would ever enter diversion for this type of incident," Smith said. "But there were witnesses there who reported the incident as inappropriate, and we didn’t want to leave the impression there was any preferential treatment."
Love was on duty April 7 when he and his wife ? a firefighter in Winfield ? arrived at the same location for a call. Officer Love is said to have pulled his wife to the side while the couple argued.
Parker would not discuss the details of the argument but said "nothing physical" occurred.
"But he was on duty and in uniform, and to me that’s unprofessional conduct," the chief said. "It shouldn’t have happened. He’s embarrassed by it."
Smith said he met with Love’s wife, who was satisfied with the resolution of the misdemeanor charge.
Sources told NewsCow that Love was also suspended from duty for several days, but Parker would not confirm that information. Love is a respected, long-time officer and will continue with the department, he said.
"As far as I’m concerned, (the incident) is over," Parker said.
