Sgt. Gerald Greene’s decision comes less than a month after another officer was disciplined.
A Columbia police sergeant resigned Thursday, less than two weeks after he was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and speeding in Audrain County.
Sgt. Gerald Greene, the department’s narcotics unit supervisor, is currently on sick leave and will be paid through Feb. 9.
“I offered this possibility, and he did resign voluntarily,” Police Chief Randy Boehm said of Greene, who was put on paid administrative leave after the arrest.
“He was an excellent employee,” Boehm said. “This was an unfortunate but isolated incident. I hope the community understands that our officers are professional and out there doing the job they’re supposed to be doing.”
Greene’s resignation came less than a month after the department disciplined another officer. The Missourian reported on Dec. 31 at columbiamissourian.com that Columbia police Officer Todd Smith had been fired after he was arrested on suspicion of stalking.
“This is not a trend at all,” Boehm said.
Boehm said no special meetings have been held in the past to discuss issues like these, and none were scheduled.
He declined to release the names of two off-duty officers who were with Greene in the car at the time.
“Are they guilty of not making very good decisions? Yeah, but that’s short of any law or policy violation,” Boehm said.
Greene, the two off-duty officers and three other people were in a car pulled over by Trooper Curtis Wilt, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, on Jan. 15.
“He came around a corner driving extremely fast,” said Wilt, explaining why he stopped Greene. Wilt said he saw a Columbia Police Department card in Greene’s open wallet.
“It’s very awkward when you’re in a situation like that with another officer,” said Wilt, but added he dealt with Greene as he would any other citizen. Wilt said Greene expressed concern over the status of his job as a result of the incident, but Wilt declined to elaborate on the conversation.
Wilt did not know the occupations of the other people in the car because he did not ask for their IDs, he said.
He confirmed a previous “alcohol-related” violation by Greene, but could not provide specific details.