Town of Delavan officer terminated after hearing
TOWN OF DELAVAN — A town of Delavan police officer who admitted causing a scene at a Walworth County strip Club has lost his job.
Jeremiah Burdick, who had been a full-time officer with the town since 2007, was let go after a Wednesday meeting of the town's police and fire commission.
"He's essentially been terminated," said Larry Malsch, member of the town's police and fire commission.
The vote was unanimous.
Malsch said Burdick was terminated "over a combination of things, the history of his behavior."
At an evidentiary hearing Dec. 10, commission members were presented with a statement of charges filed in October by Smith.
According to the charging documents, Burdick was drunk Aug. 12 when he drove to the Vegas Gentleman's Club in the town of Darien.
Burdick flashed his police identification in an effort to get in for free. Once inside, Burdick was offensive to dancers and other customers. When Walworth County sheriff's deputies arrived, they found him urinating in the parking lot and found open beers in his car, the documents said.
Burdick's attorney, Scott Schroeder, said an August incident at the strip club represented "rock bottom" for Burdick.
Burdick said his behavior was caused, in part, by a prescription sleeping medication he had taken several hours before the incident.
But there were other incidents, too, including some earlier this year, Malsch said.
Burdick was suspended for four days in 2008 for an off-duty violation.
"The chief and the lieutenant tried to work with him," said Malsch, referring to Town of Delavan Chief Phil Smith.
Burdick has been on leave since Aug. 15.
