The Enfield Police Department on Tuesday released a report of an internal investigation that led to a mutual separation between the department and a lieutenant five years ago.
The file consists of 216 pages of documents accrued during an investigation of alleged inappropriate off-duty behavior by Lt. Duane Tompkins, a 17-year veteran of the police force who was supervisor of the detective bureau at the time of his departure from the department.
On Oct. 9, 2007, a separation agreement was signed between Tompkins and Town Manager Matt Coppler, in which both parties agreed, "In the event of a request to disclose any documents relating to Tompkins off-duty conduct, the Town will give Tompkins and the Union notice and an opportunity to object to disclosure on the ground that such disclosure would constitute an invasion of Tompkins' personal privacy under Section 1-210 of the Freedom of Information Act."
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The Journal Inquirer, a newspaper based in Manchester, filed a Freedom of Information request for release of the documents. After years of court hearings and appeals, Appellate Court Judge Michael R. Sheldon ruled in July 2012 that the department must release the documents, after first redacting information such as phone numbers, addresses and language which would "be highly offensive to a reasonable person."
In a previous decision, in 2010, Judge Henry S. Cohn wrote, "The court concludes that the record supports the finding that the documents as redacted concern matters of public concern."
According to the files, the investigation began in May 2007, when an officer found a thumb drive in his cruiser which "contained pornographic images and sexually explicit instant messages."
Another officer no longer with the department had previously used the vehicle extensively. That officer said he had received documents relating to his specialized position on the thumb drive from Tompkins.
The thumb drive was analyzed at the State of Connecticut Department of Public Safety by the Division of Scientific Services Computer Crimes and Electronic Evidence Laboratory. A total of 1,921 photos and 2,585 instant messages were found, the report states.
"The images consisted of clothed males, partially naked males, totally nude males and close-up photographs of a male's genitals," the report states, adding that none of the pictures would qualify as illegal. In addition, the report says, "There were no images/videos of child pornography found on the CD submitted."
During the internal investigation, Tompkins was interviewed twice in September 2007. He admitted providing documents to the specialty officer on the thumb drive, but said he thought he had deleted all previous material stored on the device.
Many pages of the released file consist of explicit instant message conversations between Tompkins, mainly under the screen name "Bicop69", and other parties.
Several of the online conversations involving "Bicop69" were with someone claiming to be around the age of 16. However, the police administrators conducting the internal investigation assured Tompkins the investigation was not of a criminal nature, the report says.
Tompkins had been suspended with pay during the investigation. His separation agreement with the town called for him to collect "regular weekly checks at the straight time rate of pay for his rank, less applicable deductions, by charging the time to his accrued vacation, holiday time and sick leave in that order." His irrevocable letter of resignation took effect July 9, 2008.
Tompkins is currently a volunteer constable of a small town in Vermont.
Police Chief Carl Sferrazza would not comment on the matter.
