An Athens police officer was arrested Thursday after allegedly attempting to bribe a fellow officer to help out a friend charged with DUI.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation charged Athens-Clarke County police Officer Chris Burton, 33, with one count of party to the crime of bribery and one felony count of violation of oath of office, police said.
The investigation began Monday after the Athens police Chief Joseph Lumpkin notified the GBI Monday regarding the officer’s alleged conduct, the chief said in a prepared statement.
“Burton had contacted a fellow officer and stated that a friend of Burton’s would pay a quantity of money to have his DUI charge dismissed,” Chief Lumkin said.
The officer reported this information to his superior officer, which resulted in the request for the investigation, Chief Lumkin said.
On Tuesday, GBI agents monitored an exchange of funds to the cooperating officer from the DUI arrestee with the expectation that the pending DUI charge will be dismissed, Chief Lumkin said.