Vermont Police Academy Suicide

[Chris Santee]

STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
DIVISION OF STATE POLICE
ROYALTON BARRACKS

** PRESS RELEASE & PRESS CONFERENCE **

NOTE: There will be a press conference this evening at 5:30 P.M. at the Rutland Regional Ambulance Service located on Stratton Road in Rutland regarding the below matter.  The Rutland Regional Ambulance Service is located next to the Medical Center. 

DATE OF RELEASE:      January 16, 2010
INCIDENT:    Suicide/Criminal Investigation
CASE #:  10C100265
INVESTIGATOR:   Sgt. Mike O’Neil – Royalton Barracks

DATE & TIME OF INCIDENT: January 16, 2010 @ 10:20       

LOCATION:    Vermont Police Academy - Pittsford

DECEASED:  David McMullen, age 44, Cornwall, VT

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:
The Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council (VCJTC) initiated a personnel investigation at the Police Academy on January 7, 2010,  which resulted in the seizure of four computers.  The personnel investigation focused on electronic communication between staff members to include Director RJ Elrick and Training Coordinator Dave McMullen.  Personnel matters are confidential by law and policy and we are unable to comment in any more detail. 

During the week of January 11th the Vermont State Police initiated a criminal investigation after a preliminary analysis of McMullen’s computer revealed it may have contained information of a criminal nature.

The contents of the computer were then further analyzed, during which time information indicating that potential child pornography was accessed from an outside source by this assigned computer. The analysis also indicated that similar material may have been linked to external sources, to include a home computer.

On January 15, 2010 Vermont State Police Investigators applied for and were granted a search warrant for the residence of David McMullen. This search warrant was executed on the evening of the 15th and items from the home were seized.  These items are in the process of being submitted for forensic computer analysis.

On Saturday, January 16, 2010 at approximately 10:20 hours, McMullen was found deceased behind a maintenance shed located on the property of the Vermont Police Academy.  McMullen’s death appears to be a suicide.  His body is being sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Burlington, Vermont where an autopsy will be performed. 

McMullen’s death is currently being investigated by State Police Detectives from “D” Troop.  McMullen will be transported to the VT Chief Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy to determine cause and manner of death.

This is an active and open investigation at this time.