Details Of Southampton Village Settlement With Suspended Police Officer Released - 27 East
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Details Of Southampton Village Settlement With Suspended Police Officer Released

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Southampton Village Police Department. BRENDAN J. O'REILLY

Southampton Village Police Department. BRENDAN J. O'REILLY

authorCailin Riley on Jul 19, 2022

The details of the settlement agreement that was reached between the Village of Southampton and suspended Southampton Village Police Officer Lee Pulliam were released late last week, providing more information about the stipulations that the parties agreed upon.

Pulliam, 34, was originally suspended on January 26 for 30 days without pay, after he was charged by Suffolk County Police on January 18 with second-degree criminal trespass. County Police said he unlawfully entered a neighbor’s home in Manorville through an unlocked door without permission on Christmas Eve of 2021.

Southampton Village Acting Police Chief Suzanne Hurteau then served Pulliam with a misconduct charge, which led to the 30-day suspension, and he then denied the charge and requested a hearing, according to the settlement agreement. Hearings were conducted on May 4 and 23, with hearing officer Arthur Riegel presiding.

Pulliam has not worked since January 26, although after that initial 30 days of being suspended without pay, he continued to receive his salary while the village went through the process of appointing the hearing officer and holding the hearings in May.

Ultimately the village decided, in a 4-0 vote at a special meeting on July 6, with Mayor Jesse Warren abstaining, to reach a settlement with Pulliam rather than await a recommendation from the hearing officer.

The settlement requires Pulliam to forfeit all of his accrued leave time, a total of 154 days, which, at his daily rate of pay, amounts to a total of $93,598. It breaks down into 82.75 sick leave days, 67.25 vacation days, and four personal days.

The settlement also includes a “last chance” agreement, which states that if Pulliam engages in any “similar or serious misconduct” within three years of the execution of the settlement, the village will seek to terminate him.

Per the settlement, Pulliam is also required to attend and complete anger management counseling in a program approved by the village, during his off-duty hours, and he will not be compensated for attending that program.

The settlement was signed by Pulliam, Village Administrator Charlene Kagel-Betts, and Southampton Village PBA President Michael Horstman.

Horstman said he has no comment. Hurteau did not respond to inquiries this week regarding when Pulliam will resume working.

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