THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT’S ONLY K-9 OFFICER HAS RESIGNED AFTER AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION ON ALLEGED POLICY VIOLATIONS.

SERGEANT MICHAEL TODD MANNING… A SHIFT SUPERVISOR AND EIGHT YEAR VETERAN OFFICER… WAS CHARGED WITH HAVING SEXUAL CONTACT WITH A WOMAN IN HIS PATROL CAR LAST WEEK.   MANNING DENIED THE SEXUAL CONTACT CHARGE… AND PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR TOMMY FREEMAN SAID THAT CHARGE COULD NOT BE CONFIRMED.   THE REASON THE OFFICER FACED DISMISSAL WAS THAT HE LIED IN THE INTERNAL INVESTIGATION, FREEMAN SAID.

MANNING SAID THE WOMAN NEVER GOT IN HIS PATROL CAR… WHICH IS A VIOLATION OF POLICY UNLESS AN ARREST HAS BEEN MADE.  FREEMAN SAID HE HAD MULTIPLE WITNESSES THAT SAW MANNING AND THE WOMAN INSIDE HIS PATROL CAR.  THE INCIDENT ALLEGEDLY TOOK PLACE AT THE WOMAN’S HOME LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT.   MANNING RESIGNED THE NEXT DAY.

CHIEF FREEMAN SAID SERGEANT MANNING HAD A ‘CLEAN RECORD’ PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT.