We have a small update on the status of the investigation into City of Bradford Police Chief Butch Bartlett.
When contacted by WESB News about the matter, City Administrator Chris Lucco said the internal investigation is still going on but, as of Thursday, Bartlett is now on unpaid leave.
Two months ago Bartlett and Officer Matthew Gustin were put on paid administrative leave pending the completion of an investigation into the arrest of Matthew Confer on May 5.
Gustin is still on paid leave.
After a video of the arrest started circulating, allegations of police brutality arose.
McKean County District Attorney Stephanie Vetteburg-Shaffer released the following statement:
“When the District Attorney’s Office receives a complaint alleging wrongdoing by a police officer, the nature of the allegation determines what occurs.
If the allegation relates to dishonesty or otherwise raises a concern about an officer’s credibility, the DA has to review the matter because the DA’s Office is responsible for ensuring the integrity of criminal complaints filed and testimony presented in court to allow a judge or jury to make a decision in a case.
I have assigned this investigation to the Chief County Detective. The Chief County Detective and an Assistant District Attorney have conducted interviews, the most recent one occurring yesterday. There is a standard protocol for this type of investigation that was drafted by the District Attorneys’ Association with feedback from police unions that ensures the ability of the DA’s Office to gather information while providing officers with the ability to provide an interview.
This type of investigation concludes with a determination of honesty or dishonesty and, therefore, determines whether information provided by an officer can be used as the basis for criminal charges in any criminal case in the future or if an officer will be able to testify as a witness in any prosecution.
This investigation is nearing completion.
Because the District Attorney’s Office works with the officers involved, any allegation about criminal wrongdoing by the officers in the present case was referred to an outside agency. I referred this investigation to a lieutenant with the State Police in Punxsutawney who has assigned it to a member of the State Police.
Any other allegations that my office has received have been referred to the Attorney General’s Office.”
Mayor James McDonald has not yet returned a request for a comment.