A Leland police officer involved in a DWI checkpoint shooting last month resigned from the town’s police department Monday.
The police department’s internal investigation into the incident found that Anthony Bernard, 34, was justified in his involvement and shooting his weapon, Leland Town Manager David Hollis said.
But the investigation also revealed that Bernard did not come forward about shooting his service weapon at the multi-agency checkpoint in Leland on Friday, June 14, until the following Monday, June 17, which is a violation of town policy regarding the timeliness of an officer reporting firing a weapon, Hollis said.
“Subsequently, Officer Bernard has resigned from his position with the Town of Leland,” Hollis said.
Bernard was one of several officers involved in the DWI checkpoint in Leland, where two suspects were shot multiple times by officers while allegedly fleeing from the scene.
Related story: Brunswick sheriff speaks out about Friday’s DWI checkpoint shooting
Leland’s town policy requires “officers shall make an immediate verbal report to their supervisors following any use of force from [pepper spray] to deadly force, or use of force resulting in injury, or claim of injury, and must file a use-of-force report.”
Four Brunswick County deputies and three New Hanover County deputies involved in the shooting returned to duty following the agencies’ internal investigations, Brunswick County Sheriff John Ingram and New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon said at a press conference Monday, July 1.
Related story: Sheriff’s deputies return to work following checkpoint shooting
A second Leland officer at the DWI checkpoint did not discharge his weapon, Hollis said.
Bernard was hired as a Leland employee on Dec. 13, 2010, and earned an annual salary of $33,231.
An investigation into the incident by the State Bureau of Investigation is ongoing, according to spokeswoman Noelle Talley. The case will be handled by special prosecutors from the Attorney General’s Office.
Twenty-nine officers from various agencies were involved in the checkpoint. In addition to the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and Leland Police Department, officers from Boiling Spring Lakes Police Department, Whiteville Police Department and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol worked the DWI checkpoint.
