[NY] Officer Burns resigns after allegedy choking wife - which HALTS the internal investigation

NEW HARTFORD OFFICER RESIGNS AFTER ALLEGEDLY CHOKING WIFE
Utica Observer-Dispatch
By Rocco Laduca
Posted Nov 30, 2011
[Excerpts] A New Hartford police officer has resigned in light of criminal charges alleging that he choked his wife during a domestic incident over the weekend, authorities said. Christopher Burns, 42, ended his law enforcement career of more than 15 years Wednesday, just days after he was charged by state police with criminal obstruction of breathing, a misdemeanor, in connection to an incident at his home in Clinton shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday. Burns had been placed on paid administrative leave since the incident, but Burns’ resignation effectively ends any administrative proceedings against him, New Hartford police Chief Michael Inserra said. Inserra declined to comment any further on the matter at this time. Burns appeared in Kirkland Town Court Tuesday, at which time an order of protection was extended for six months requiring that Burns stay away from his wife... He is due back in court on Tuesday, Jan. 3.... Burns’ defense attorney, George Massoud, explained Wednesday that Burns has otherwise lived a respectable professional and personal life.... “He maintains his innocence as far as the charges that are leveled against him at the time, and the true facts of the alleged occurrence will be known to the public through the court proceedings”... Although Kirkland police initially responded to the 911 call, they quickly referred the matter to state police because Burns’ wife is the daughter of Kirkland Town Supervisor Robert Meelan, Kirkland... Once state police arrived, the domestic nature of the criminal allegations required a mandatory arrest, officials said. [Full article here]
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