Gwinnett Daily Post

SUWANEE — A Suwanee police officer in good standing with the department was terminated after he admitted to engaging in oral sex with a woman while on the job last month.

Patrol Officer Michael Chavez was dismissed Dec. 21 following an internal investigation for violating several department policies. Chavez, a DUI task force member, had been with the department two years, said Suwanee police Chief Michael Jones.

“It’s our standard here that if you’re involved with any inappropriate activities like that, you’ll be dismissed,” the chief said. “Every one of my officers knows that.”

The incident in question began about 3 a.m. on Dec. 3, when Chavez was patrolling the city and spotted the woman walking alone on Horizon Drive. The investigation revealed the woman had left nearby Twisted Tavern and was too intoxicated to drive, but was not stumbling drunk, Jones said.

Following protocol, Chavez asked the woman if she was in distress. He agreed to drive her home upon learning her situation and called dispatch to report his intentions. His initial policy violations occurred, however, when he failed to pat the woman down for weapons and allowed her to ride in the cruiser’s front seat, the chief said.

Chavez drove the woman to her apartment, a house off Buford Drive divided into units, and asked to use the restroom. That’s where his story diverges from what the woman told Suwanee police officials.

The woman came forward Dec. 5 to claim Chavez tried to kiss her in the apartment despite her telling him “no” three times. She told police she fell on the bed, pushed Chavez off of her, and he left, Jones said.

Since the initial complaint, the woman has not cooperated and has moved elsewhere, which has discredited her claims.

“We can’t find her,” Jones said.

Investigators believed Chavez’s side of the story, that he entered the apartment, where the woman performed oral sex, and then left. His retelling was very detailed, Jones said.

“He was very honest during the internal,” the chief said. “But there’s no reason for that action. He made a very poor decision and therefore we terminated him.”

Investigators also found that Chavez, who lives in Jackson County, had been driving his car home. That violates policy because he lived more than 20 miles from the department, Jones said.

“He was supposed to park his car at a fire station or a police station,” Jones said.

Specific ages weren’t available Friday, but Jones said both the officer and woman in question are in their 30s.

Added Jones: “We corrected the issues and dealt with the problem, as a professional agency should.”