Three state troopers in western New York have been suspended as part of a State Police investigation into allegations that at least one of the troopers was involved in prostitution.
According to New York State Police Superintendent Joseph D’Amico, Titus Taggart, a 41-year-old trooper assigned to Troop T in Buffalo, was suspended without pay, effective April 26.
Taggart, an 18-year veteran of the state police, “is alleged to have organized parties that may have involved the promotion of prostitution, while off-duty,” D’Amico said in a press release.
The suspension is the result of an internal investigation that was initiated in December 2011. Authorities have yet to comment on specific allegations. Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita did not immediately return a call for comment from The Huffington Post.
A Facebook page attributed to Taggart has been deleted, however the Times Union of Albany was able to download a number of images before it was taken down. One of the images shows a man, identified by the newspaper as Taggart, posing with a large bottle of liquor. In another photo, the same man is shown standing in front of an SUV.
Trooper Jeremy C. Smith, 34, and Trooper Michael L. Petritz, 33, were also suspended without pay on Thursday in connection with a State Police administrative investigation.
D’Amico said Smith, a 10-year veteran of the force, and Petritz, an eight-year trooper, were “suspended for allegedly engaging in misconduct, however, were not involved in organizing the parties.”
