A Greenfield police officer has resigned for sexting a woman who was a suspect in a jewelry theft, police said.
According to Greenfield police, a tip was received in August from a third party that an officer may have engaged in inappropriate behavior.
Chief Bradley Wentlandt ordered an investigation into the matter.
Investigators said that the woman was initially unwilling to cooperate, but that she was convinced that potential misconduct was "a very serious matter" and agreed to cooperate.
The text messages were consensual, but the messages from the officer included several that were sexually explicit in nature, police said.
The officer, 29, has been with the department for six years and met the woman during the course of the theft investigation on Aug. 21, police said.
After investigators obtained evidence about the sexting, the officer was placed on administrative leave and suspended with pay, police said.
On Sept. 4, Wentlandt determined that the conduct of the officer violated the department's rules and standards of conducted and prepared to file charges to the Greenfield Police and Fire Commission to fire the officer.
Before the matter could go to the commission, the officer resigned, police said.
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