Cops West Assigned Its Original Officer

Thu., Sept. 11, 1997

By Kathy Mulady kathymu@spokesman.com

Tim Conley is back on duty as the West Central neighborhood resource officer.

Former resource officer Ken Lesperance has been reassigned to second-shift patrol duties because of several citizen complaints about his performance, according to a police department spokesman.

Lesperance has filed a sexual harassment claim against Cheryl Steele, who coordinates the Community Oriented Policing program.

Conley was West Central’s resource officer for four years before Lesperance.

“We are very pleased about this,” said Paul Soper, a West Central neighbor who complained last month about the community being left without a resource officer.

Almost three weeks ago, neighbors met with police representatives to ask for protection from criminals and hoodlums threatening to re-infest their neighborhood.

Conley was back in the neighborhood Monday and will work temporarily until a new resource officer is selected within the next month or two.

“It is nice to be back among people you’ve worked with before, and it’s always nice to see friends again,” said Conley, who was West Central’s first resource officer. He has been working patrol duties since January 1996.

As resource officer, Conley will work on complaints from neighbors, contact people who need help and provide a police presence in the neighborhood. His hours will be flexible.

When the new resource officer is selected, Conley will stay around to help ease the transition.

“I’ll be there to help get that officer going,” said Conley.

Police department representatives, including Assistant Police Chief Roger Bragdon, COPS coordinator Cheryl Steele and Lt. Glenn Winkey, met with the neighborhood last week. “It was a good meeting,” said Soper.

, DataTimes

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