Greenfield Officer Young Resigned After Sexting Photo Of His Genitals To Jewelry Theft Suspect

David Young

Greenfield Police Officer Young quits job to avoid getting fired for inappropriate conduct with a jewelry theft suspect.

By H. Nelson Goodson

November 15, 2012

Greenfield, WI - The Greenfield Police Department (GPD) confirmed that a 29-year-old officer had resigned in early September after an investigation determined he engaged in inappropriate conduct violating department policy. The former officer was identified by a source as David Young, one of two officers who talked to a 22-year-old woman identified as JoAnne Fagan, suspected of jewelry theft. 

Last August 24, a tip received by the GPD from a third party that a Greenfield officer had engaged in sexting (texting), which led to an internal investigation by the department.

Young was suspended and placed on administrative leave on August 26 with pay pending an investigation. The GPD internal investigation concluded on September 4 and Greenfield Police Chief Bradley Wentlandt confirmed that Young had sent explicit photos in nature of himself to a woman, who became distraught. 

At first, she wouldn't cooperate with the internal investigation. The woman was actually convinced by Greenfield police investigators to cooperate, which she did. 

Chief Wentlandt received the outcome results of the investigation determining Young had engaged in sexting. The investigation determined that Young and Fagan had agreed to keep in contact, which later led to consensual texting and to exchange photos. Fagan told investigators that Young had sent about a dozen lewd text messages and also wanted to have sex with her.

Young sent a final text photo of his genitals to Fagan after she sent him a photo of her wearing shorts.

Wentlandt decided to file a request to terminate Officer Young for violating the Greenfield Police Department rules and standards of conduct related to an inappropriate contact with a suspect. But, Young decided to resigned rather than face termination by the Greenfield Fire and Police Commission.

Young's inappropriate sexting violated the GPD standards of conduct policy for officers but, is not considered a crime. 

Fagan was never charged for theft, according to Chief Wentlandt.

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