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Trooper charged in Pa. burglaries
State police officer allegedly broke into homes in uniform
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM
Associated Press
12/05/2003
PHILADELPHIA -- A Pennsylvania State Police trooper was charged with breaking into houses while in uniform and stealing money and prescription drugs, officials said Thursday.
The arrest of Trooper John Travis Layne, 31, comes a week after state police released a study showing that dozens of its troopers had been arrested over the past decade for crimes ranging from rape to disorderly conduct. Gov. Ed Rendell called the arrests "a problem" and vowed to fix it.
Layne, a nine-year veteran of the force, was charged with four counts each of burglary and criminal trespass and one count of attempted burglary after state police allegedly caught him in the act Wednesday. Officials said he is a suspect in other recent burglaries in Chester County.
Layne, who police said confessed to the burglaries, was suspended without pay. His commanding officer, Capt. Steven McDaniel, said he is likely to be fired pending the results of the criminal case and an internal investigation. He is free on unsecured bail.
"We are sworn not to swerve from the path of duty, but to obey the law and enforce it. In this case, he has chosen not to obey the law," McDaniel said Thursday. "We therefore will."
The investigation began Nov. 21 when a West Fallowfield Township police sergeant, responding to a burglary call, noticed a boot print where the door had been kicked in and recognized it as coming from a state trooper's boot.
By coincidence, the sergeant, Charles Wilmont, had been chatting with Layne just a few minutes earlier when he got the burglary call. Layne did not offer to assist, and when Wilmont saw the boot print he called the state police barracks in Avondale. Attention quickly focused on Layne, who spent eight years on patrol duty before transferring a year ago to a staff support role.
Investigators conducting surveillance on Layne on Wednesday morning allegedly saw him peering into the windows of one house, and entering another house through an unlocked garage door. Troopers later confronted Layne at the Avondale barracks and he admitted to the four burglaries and the attempted burglary, according to court documents.
Layne told police he was "looking for pain medication that he would then take for his own use," the documents said. In one burglary on Nov. 12, he allegedly stole medicine and $160 in wrapped quarters.
"His actions have had a profound effect on the members who are assigned to this station," McDaniel said.
Layne, of West Chester, has an unlisted phone number and could not be reached Thursday for comment. It could not be determined if he has an attorney.
A state police study released last week indicated that 82 troopers were arrested for felonies and misdemeanors, including aggravated assault, rape, bribery and incest, over the past nine years. Another 25 troopers were charged with summary offenses such as disorderly conduct and harassment.
The review came several months after a federal lawsuit filed against a former state trooper, now in prison for a variety of crimes against women and teenage girls, brought to light the extent of sexual-misconduct complaints filed against state police employees.
Rendell said last week that state police are taking steps to address the problems in the 4,300-trooper work force.
State police officer allegedly broke into homes in uniform
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM
Associated Press
12/05/2003
PHILADELPHIA -- A Pennsylvania State Police trooper was charged with breaking into houses while in uniform and stealing money and prescription drugs, officials said Thursday.
The arrest of Trooper John Travis Layne, 31, comes a week after state police released a study showing that dozens of its troopers had been arrested over the past decade for crimes ranging from rape to disorderly conduct. Gov. Ed Rendell called the arrests "a problem" and vowed to fix it.
Layne, a nine-year veteran of the force, was charged with four counts each of burglary and criminal trespass and one count of attempted burglary after state police allegedly caught him in the act Wednesday. Officials said he is a suspect in other recent burglaries in Chester County.
Layne, who police said confessed to the burglaries, was suspended without pay. His commanding officer, Capt. Steven McDaniel, said he is likely to be fired pending the results of the criminal case and an internal investigation. He is free on unsecured bail.
"We are sworn not to swerve from the path of duty, but to obey the law and enforce it. In this case, he has chosen not to obey the law," McDaniel said Thursday. "We therefore will."
The investigation began Nov. 21 when a West Fallowfield Township police sergeant, responding to a burglary call, noticed a boot print where the door had been kicked in and recognized it as coming from a state trooper's boot.
By coincidence, the sergeant, Charles Wilmont, had been chatting with Layne just a few minutes earlier when he got the burglary call. Layne did not offer to assist, and when Wilmont saw the boot print he called the state police barracks in Avondale. Attention quickly focused on Layne, who spent eight years on patrol duty before transferring a year ago to a staff support role.
Investigators conducting surveillance on Layne on Wednesday morning allegedly saw him peering into the windows of one house, and entering another house through an unlocked garage door. Troopers later confronted Layne at the Avondale barracks and he admitted to the four burglaries and the attempted burglary, according to court documents.
Layne told police he was "looking for pain medication that he would then take for his own use," the documents said. In one burglary on Nov. 12, he allegedly stole medicine and $160 in wrapped quarters.
"His actions have had a profound effect on the members who are assigned to this station," McDaniel said.
Layne, of West Chester, has an unlisted phone number and could not be reached Thursday for comment. It could not be determined if he has an attorney.
A state police study released last week indicated that 82 troopers were arrested for felonies and misdemeanors, including aggravated assault, rape, bribery and incest, over the past nine years. Another 25 troopers were charged with summary offenses such as disorderly conduct and harassment.
The review came several months after a federal lawsuit filed against a former state trooper, now in prison for a variety of crimes against women and teenage girls, brought to light the extent of sexual-misconduct complaints filed against state police employees.
Rendell said last week that state police are taking steps to address the problems in the 4,300-trooper work force.
