The Associated Press
FARGO, N.D. (AP) -- Two police officers here have been suspended without pay after an investigation into a September traffic stop.
Police officials said one officer did not perform a thorough investigation when he decided not to ticket an off-duty patrolman caught driving 35 mph above the speed limit.
Administrators also said officer Troy Nielson damaged the underside of his police car chasing officer Wes Libner and failed to report the incident to supervisors.
Nielson has been suspended for six days. Libner has been suspended for three days and also was charged with careless driving.
Fargo Mayor Bruce Furness said the punishment shows off-duty police will not held to a different standard.
“Officer (Nielson) took less aggressive action than he might have with somebody who’s not a police officer, so I think this resolution to the situation was appropriate,” Furness said.
Police officials have said Nielson told supervisors he smelled alcohol on Libner’s breath but did not give him a sobriety test. Libner denied driving under the influence in accepting his suspension.