BUFFALO, N.Y. — A West Seneca Police officer was arraigned Thursday on one misdemeanor count of official misconduct.
The Erie County District Attorney's Office alleges that Derek Vasquez, 35, had an on-duty sexual encounter with a domestic violence victim in January. They say he had filed a domestic incident report on her behalf weeks before the incident.
Prosecutors say Vasquez showed up at the victim's house while on-duty, adding that he was not dispatched on an official call to the residence on the day of the incident.
Vasquez, who faces up to one year in jail, is next scheduled to appear in court at 11 a.m. Friday, January 24. He was released on his own recognizance.
In the meantime, there is a no-contact order of protection for the victim.
West Seneca Police issued a statement on Friday afternoon, saying in part that its own "investigation is still active and open."
Earlier this month, the West Seneca Police Department was notified by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office that they had opened up an investigation against Town of West Seneca Police Officer Derek Vasquez, involving accusations of his involvement in inappropriate, on duty behavior. At that time, Officer Vasquez was immediately placed on Administrative Leave from the Department and a parallel Internal Investigation was opened.
As has been reported, Officer Vasquez was criminally charged by the New York State Police and the District Attorney. The West Seneca Police Department has fully cooperated with the DA and NYSP during the criminal investigatory stage, and continues to work closely with those agencies as part of the Internal Affairs process.