Webster Police sergeant on leave after turning off body-worn camera during call involving off-duty RPD officer
WEBSTER, N.Y. – A Webster Police sergeant is on paid leave after turning off his body-worn camera while responding to a 911 call involving an off-duty Rochester Police officer.
The incident has led to two internal investigations: one by Webster, and one by Rochester Police.
WATCH: Webster Police body-worn camera video of exchange with off-duty RPD officer
The call was for a man passed out behind the wheel of an SUV on Orchard Street in the village. It came in around 1:22 p.m. on April 1.
Chief Dennis Kohlmeier says Sgt. Michael Wilder responded to the call, along with two plainclothes investigators.
In the body-worn camera video obtained by News10NBC, Wilder approaches the SUV. He walks by a garbage truck. A worker tells him, “He wouldn’t roll down the window.”
Wilder replies, “Okay.”
As he gets closer to the SUV, three people are standing outside of it. One says, “When we got here, he was just, like, sleeping. Seems altered.”
“Okay,” Wilder replies.
Standing at the driver’s side window, Wilder says, “Doing alright brother? Everything good?”
“Yes,” the RPD officer replies.
“Where you trying to get to?” Wilder asks.
“What’s that?”
“Where you trying to get to?” Wilder asks again.
“To Webster,” the officer replies.
“Webster? Well you made it,” Wilder says.
“Made it,” the officer replies.
The audio is muted as the officer gives his address.
“What are we going to do for today?” Wilder asks.
“What?” the officer asks.
“What are we going to do for today?” Wilder asks again.
“You know me,” the officer replies.
“I understand that,” Wilder says. “What are we doing to do today?”
“I’m going to go home,” he replies.”
“Well you know me,” Wilder says, “and you know that can’t happen, alright? You can go home, just not in the current condition, alright? Who can we call?”
“My wife,” the officer says.
“Your wife? Get her on the phone,” Wilder says.
“Can we leave them out?” the officer asks.
“What’s that?” Wilder asks.
“I said, ‘Can we leave them out?'” apparently referencing the ambulance crew.
Wilder asks the officer if he needs medical treatment, and he says he does not.
The sergeant radios in that he’s going to put the ambulance crew back into service, then turns to two men who appear to be the plainclothes investigators. He asks, “Can you gentlemen talk to the garbage truck company up there and just let them know I’m all set?”
After that, he turns off the body-cam.
Kohlemier says Sgt. Wilder violated procedure when he did that. He also says Wilder did not document the call. Kohlmeier says he only learned about it when a captain brought his concerns to him.
Wilder is on paid leave while the department works out possible disciplinary actions. The department will have to negotiate any discipline against Wilder with the police union. The arbitration process could take up to a year.
The RPD officer was off duty and on leave at the time. He was not charged.
In a statement, RPD Capt. Greg Bello said:
“We are aware of an incident on April 1st, 2024, involving an off-duty member of the Rochester Police Department. Upon learning of the incident, Chief Smith immediately ordered an internal investigation by the Professional Standards Section. It should be noted, that the Officer was on leave at the time of the incident and remains on leave.”
News10NBC has reached out to Wilder for comment.