Off-duty Columbus officer arrested by WPPD

Steve Rogers Daily Times Leader

A Columbus police officer has been arrested by West Point Police on three counts of improper activity with an underage woman, according to sources within Columbus city government.

West Point Police Chief Avery Cook would not discuss the case or the charges or name the officer.

The officer has been with the Columbus department for less than a year and still is in his probationary period, meaning he does not fall under civil service protections and can be fired immediately.

In a press release, Columbus Police said the unnamed officer, who was off duty at the time the alleged incidents took place, has been placed on paid administrative leave.

The Columbus City Council will take up the matter at its meeting Tuesday night.

“Since this is a personnel matter, we will not be releasing any details on the charges or the officer involved,” said Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton. “This is an ongoing criminal investigation that is being conducted completely by the West Point Police Department. The Columbus Police Department is not involved in the investigation but is cooperating fully.”

The officer formerly worked at the Lowndes County Sheriff's Department, but not as a deputy, according to city sources. But Chief Deputy Marc Miley said he was not aware of anyone who might fall into that situation.