Winder officer fired for misconduct

Officer Bryant Cruse was terminated on Sept. 2 after an internal affairs investigation showed he had used his position as an officer for personal gain.

The violations stem from Cruse’s investigation of a traffic accident which occurred on the afternoon of Aug. 28. That evening, using information obtained from the accident report, Cruse contacted a female witness and asked if he could come by her house and speak with her regarding her witness statement.

The female said she was unable to meet with him at that time.

The following evening, Cruse called the female again and requested to meet with her about the accident. The woman agreed and, within minutes, Cruse arrived at her home.

Cruse reportedly failed to notify police dispatch of his location or that he was conducting a follow-up investigation.

According to the female, Cruse spent 45 minutes talking about himself and his position at the Winder Police Department. The female later told investigators she was “uncomfortable” with Cruse in her home.

The woman said she attempted to “walk” him out the door without being impolite and asked him if he wished to talk about the accident. At that point, Cruse reportedly spent a few minutes discussing the accident before offering to let the woman’s two children see his police car. After showing the woman and her children his patrol car, taser rifle and taser, Cruse allegedly asked the female for a date. The woman refused.

In her complaint to the Winder Police Department, the woman said she felt the conduct was inappropriate, but did not report it until after speaking with a school resource officer she knew from work. The officer advised the woman to report the incident.

The woman told investigators she is very fearful of police in general and Cruse in particular. The woman said she would never again allow a police officer to come to her house.

Immediately after interviewing the woman, officials with the Winder Police Department launched an investigation into Cruse’s actions and placed him on administrative leave. The following day, Cruse’s employment was terminated after investigators determined he had engaged in behavior unbecoming to an officer, violated the police officer code of ethics and violated several other procedures and policies related to work place and patrol activities.

In the disciplinary action letter, Winder Police Chief Stanley Rodgers wrote, “During your visit you went beyond your alleged investigation mode by carrying out an extended conversation regarding personal issues related to your work and private life.”

Rodgers lists the departmental and City of Winder violations before continuing: “All of the above violations are considered serious violations. The person you visited has lost trust in members of the Winder Police Department as a result of your inappropriate conduct and unprofessional behavior."

Operations Commander Capt. Dennis Dorsey said behavior such as Cruse’s would not be tolerated at the department.

“We’re here to do a job,” Dorsey said. “This is not a social engagement for us. We feel like he went beyond the scope of his job.”

Dorsey said inappropriate actions such as Cruse’s can have repercussions for the entire department in terms of public perception and trust. For that reason, Dorsey said officials took immediate action to address the situation.

“When you call a police officer, you expect a certain level of professionalism and we, of course, hold our officers to that level,” Dorsey said. “We have to be held to a higher standard.”