2 more Fayetteville officers served suspensions after June event

Fayetteville — Two more Fayetteville police officers have served unpaid suspensions as a result of their actions after a Fraternal Order of Police event at the Chancellor Hotel in June.

Sgt. Creston Mackey and Cpl. Leonard Graves were suspended for 24 hours and 16 hours, respectively, for driving police vehicles assigned to them after consuming alcoholic beverages, which is a violation of the department's policies and procedures, said Administrative Capt. Jamie Fields.

The amount of alcohol which was consumed wasn't an issue, Fields said Tuesday. The men were not proven to be intoxicated during the subsequent investigation which concluded in late August, she added.

Their suspensions came at the same time that Sgt. Dominic Swanfeld was suspended for 160 hours, or about 30 days, for violating department policies. Allegations were that Swanfeld inappropriately touched and had some inappropriate conversation with a woman who was at the police department but not an employee, according to documents reviewed and reported in mid-September. The investigation also determined Swanfeld also drove his department-issued vehicle after consuming alcohol at the party.

The discipline of Swanfeld was not specific to the allegations since the investigation did not conclude that the events did or did not happen, Fields said in mid-September.

Mackey and Graves consumed an unknown amount of alcohol over several hours at a conference and banquet at the Chancellor Hotel on June 21, Fields said. The event was a statewide conference sponsored by the police organization.

The investigation found they violated Policy 42.2.11 which covers the use of department vehicles. Both men are assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division and are assigned unmarked cars which are among a number of cars that some officers can drive to and from their homes.

Mackey joined the police department as a jailer in 1998 and became a patrol officer in 1999, according to records. Graves joined the police department as a patrol office in 1997.

Upcoming Events