Officials in South Burlington won’t say why Officer Jack O’Connor is on leave. The police chief and city manager both say the issue is a personnel matter.
Rico Diamond, who is black, sued O’Connor and the department, alleging he was a victim of discrimination after a 2005 hotel drug raid. Officers found no drugs in Diamond’s room but seized more than $5,000 in cash. It was three weeks before the money was returned.
The Burlington Free Press says a jury found O’Connor did not discriminate, but a federal judge ruled holding Diamond’s money for so long was improper. An appeals court upheld the attorney fees.