Officer Suspended For Mailing 'Homewrecker' Flyers
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
February 8, 2008
Area: Atlanta
DEKALB COUNTY, Georgia - A mother got a shocking flyer in the mail calling her daughter a homewrecker. Now a police officer is in big trouble for sending it.
That DeKalb County police officer admits using a classified law enforcement computer to look up another woman's personal information. She then mailed flyers to the woman's family and friends.
"I read it and I sat there. I was devastated. I'm looking at my child's picture. I was totally devastated," said Susan Barcon.
Words like "homewrecker," "ashamed," and three Bible verses about adultery were scrawled across the page along with a picture of Susan Barcon's daughter. Barcon was stunned as was her daughter, Samara, when she heard from two neighbors, her former boss and other relatives who got the same letter.
"She just knew so much about us, our personal lives and it was frightening," said Barcon.
"She" is Officer Teresa Shover, a 13-year veteran of the DeKalb County Police Department. She was separated from her husband and had just found out he was dating Samara and wanted to get even, according to officials.
"I felt that they were here to protect us and not to harm us and for a police officer to do this to us, it just kind of violated our trust," said Barcon.
Especially since Shover used the Georgia Crime Information Center to look up Samara's personal information -- her address, birthdate, tag and picture. Every officer signs a form acknowledging that that is a crime.
"The citizen's trust is very important to us. That's big for us," said Deputy Chief Michael Burrows.
Burrows recommended the five week suspension and says Shover's actions were extremely severe but criminal charges aren't necessary.
"Handling it internally was the best route to take. It would serve no legitimate or useful purpose to pile on. We feel that we got the employee's attention," said Burrows.
"We didn't want her to be fired, we felt like that punishment was just and hopefully it's a warning to others," said Barcon.
In her statement to Internal Affairs, Shover said she has since gotten counseling to help her deal with her divorce. Her ex-husband is also a DeKalb County police officer.
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