ZANESVILLE — A Zanesville Police Department officer will be punished, but not fired, after a picture of him napping on the job went viral. The picture, which shows Patrolman Kyle Brooks in uniform and asleep, was circulated on social network sites and picked up by news organizations in the area.
Brooks declined to comment, but ZPD Chief Eric Lambes said he learned about the picture Thursday and has spoken with Brooks briefly, only to tell him he won’t be fired for the offense but will be punished.
That punishment, which could range from a written reprimand to counseling or an unpaid suspension, will be determined next week after an investigation, Lambes said.
Brooks was “very forthright, remorseful,” about the incident, Lambes said. He’s a good officer who made a mistake, he said.
Brooks just made the switch from afternoon to midnight shift this week, Lambes said, and likely is having some difficulty adjusting to the new hours.
Still, though, sleeping on the job is not tolerated, Lambes said. In the ZPD handbook, it would fall under neglect of duty, he said.
Officers are to be “attentive and shall remain awake while on duty,” the handbook states.
Lambes has dealt with sleeping officers before, but “it’s rare,” he said.
