The Madison police officer who did not investigate alleged marijuana smoke in a restaurant after seeing a Common Council member was officially reprimanded Thursday.
Chief of Police Noble Wray sent a letter of reprimand to officer Carrie Hemming, stating she violated police department policy by not further investigating the incident.
Hemming was conducting a fire-safety and capacity inspection Feb. 8 of the upper area of Zander's Sports Lounge, 118 State St., when she smelled marijuana smoke, according to the police department's internal review of the incident.
She later told her superiors she saw Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, in the room, but left upon seeing him. She then reported the incident to Sgt. Tony Fiore, who accompanied Hemming to Zander's but did not check the upper area with her.
Fiore was given verbal counseling for violating department policy.
Verveer and Zander's owner Mohamed Barkatallah both denied any wrongdoing and said there was no evidence of illegal activity. Verveer has previously stated he did not smell or see anything suspicious in the room.
Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said in previous reporting he would not judge Verveer until the internal investigation was finished.
