New Haven Police Chief James Lewis has suspended an officer for allegedly patronizing a prostitute while off-duty.
Officer Sam Streater is a 17-year veteran assigned to the patrol division. Investigators say other officers found Streater with a suspected prostitute in his personal vehicle in late September.
The chief has made cutting down on prostitution a major priority for the department.
The police union president is taking issue with how the department's internal affairs unit handled the case. He says officers can't be forced to give statements for off-duty conduct.
City spokeswoman Jessica Mayorga told the New Haven Register of the investigation, "We let the process work, and the process works." She added, "The consequence is balanced with the nature of the incident, and we trust the process."
