INDIANAPOLIS -- The actions of a Franklin police detective police said of drank on the job and gave booze to underage informants could put the prosecution of dozens of drug cases at risk.
Officer Bryan Burton was demoted and placed on a 45-day suspension earlier this month for violating eight different parts of the department's code of conduct by having sexually suggestive conversations with female informants and failure to report an accident.
Franklin Mayor Fred Paris said Burton was undercover for two years on a drug detail and did not have enough supervision.
Burton is the lead detective on 66 of 79 drug cases currently pending in Johnson County, 6News' Derrik Thomas reported.
Prosecutor Brad Cooper said he's concerned Burton's situation could hamper the legal process.
"I don't have him available as a witness. If there are cases coming up for trial in the next couple of weeks, we are going to have to postpone those cases or resolve them in some other manner short of having him come in and testify," he said.
Defense attorneys are also questioning Burton's credibility.
Andrew Baldwin has 10 ten clients with cases involving the former detective.
"Did Bryan Burton do something that affected the evidence? Is he lying? Is he exaggerating?" he asked. "Alcohol affects your judgment. Yes, if he's drinking on the job, that absolutely can affect his judgment, his version of what's going on, and that's a problem."
Burton's suspension is unpaid. He can reapply for a detective position in a year if he undergoes an alcohol evaluation program.
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If this were any other officer he/she would have been FIRED!!! Where is Bryan Burton any different than the rest? They ask if he can be trusted? NO!!!!! Where is he any different than the so called criminals he was setting up!!!!!!! It is time the people of Franklin as well as the people of JOHNSON COUNTY take back our life from this CORRUPT COP.....
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