Police Capt. Demoted Spills Bean Charlie Sheen Used Cops As Valets
A police captain who was demoted after actor Charlie Sheen received a high speed police escort to his comedy show has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against his department.
Hilton Burton claims he was punished for revealing that police escorts for celebrities were a common practice.
He is seeking $6m in compensation as well as being reinstated to his former rank.
Special treatment: Charlie Sheen received a high-speed police escort to his Washington show last April
Burton claims he was punished for talking to the Washington DV Council and revealing stars such as Jay Z and Bill Gates had been given police escorts.
His comments put him at odds with Police Chief Cathy Lanier who had criticised his officers for giving Sheen an escort.
Lanier said the escort broke police protocol and the VIP treatment was usually reserved for government officials.
Sheen's escort from Dulles International Airport to a concert hall attracted attention when the actor posted about it on Twitter in April last year with a photo of flashing emergency lights and a speedometer that appeared to be registering about 80 mph.
Flashing lights: The Two and a Half Men star posted a picture on Twitter at the time of the police escort he received to get him to his show
Police officials at the time said the escort ran was not in accordance with department policies as emergency lights were used in a non-emergency situation.
The escort also originated outside city lines and had not been approved by police chiefs.
The escort was provided after one of Sheen's representatives, concerned the actor would be running late for his performance, contacted police and requested a ride to the concert hall.
Police Chief Cathy Lanier said the escort broke police protocol and the VIP treatment was usually reserved for government officials
Two off-duty officers met Sheen at the airport and drove him to the venue. The promoter reimbursed the city for eight hours of overtime, at a cost of $445, police said.
Burton testified two months later that escorts for celebrities were routinely provided and that there was no written rule against them.
Other celebrities who have received police escorts in the last few years include Bill Gates, Jay-Z and Washington Wizards star John Wall, according to police records obtained by The Associated Press.
An inspector general's report concluded that the officers who provided the escort didn't break department rules. The report faulted the department for failing to establish and follow clear guidelines about the rides.
Burton was later transferred out of the special operations division, which he led, and demoted two ranks from commander to captain.
He remains with the police department but is detailed to the fire department, where he's involved in internal affairs investigation.
As well as seeking at least $6 million punitive and compensatory damages, the suit also seeks for Burton to be reinstated to commander and to his prior position.
DC Police chief Lanier said Burton's demotion was not connected to the escort but his overall performance.
But Burton said:'To me, it's all retaliatory because the chief did not like what I said before the city council.'
A police captain who was demoted after actor Charlie Sheen received a high speed police escort to his comedy show has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against his department.
Hilton Burton claims he was punished for revealing that police escorts for celebrities were a common practice.
He is seeking $6m in compensation as well as being reinstated to his former rank.
Special treatment: Charlie Sheen received a high-speed police escort to his Washington show last April
Burton claims he was punished for talking to the Washington DV Council and revealing stars such as Jay Z and Bill Gates had been given police escorts.
His comments put him at odds with Police Chief Cathy Lanier who had criticised his officers for giving Sheen an escort.
Lanier said the escort broke police protocol and the VIP treatment was usually reserved for government officials.
Sheen's escort from Dulles International Airport to a concert hall attracted attention when the actor posted about it on Twitter in April last year with a photo of flashing emergency lights and a speedometer that appeared to be registering about 80 mph.
Flashing lights: The Two and a Half Men star posted a picture on Twitter at the time of the police escort he received to get him to his show
Police officials at the time said the escort ran was not in accordance with department policies as emergency lights were used in a non-emergency situation.
The escort also originated outside city lines and had not been approved by police chiefs.
The escort was provided after one of Sheen's representatives, concerned the actor would be running late for his performance, contacted police and requested a ride to the concert hall.
Police Chief Cathy Lanier said the escort broke police protocol and the VIP treatment was usually reserved for government officials
Two off-duty officers met Sheen at the airport and drove him to the venue. The promoter reimbursed the city for eight hours of overtime, at a cost of $445, police said.
Burton testified two months later that escorts for celebrities were routinely provided and that there was no written rule against them.
Other celebrities who have received police escorts in the last few years include Bill Gates, Jay-Z and Washington Wizards star John Wall, according to police records obtained by The Associated Press.
An inspector general's report concluded that the officers who provided the escort didn't break department rules. The report faulted the department for failing to establish and follow clear guidelines about the rides.
Burton was later transferred out of the special operations division, which he led, and demoted two ranks from commander to captain.
He remains with the police department but is detailed to the fire department, where he's involved in internal affairs investigation.
As well as seeking at least $6 million punitive and compensatory damages, the suit also seeks for Burton to be reinstated to commander and to his prior position.
DC Police chief Lanier said Burton's demotion was not connected to the escort but his overall performance.
But Burton said:'To me, it's all retaliatory because the chief did not like what I said before the city council.'
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