In a recent court appearance, former Raleigh Police Department officer Tremale Cogdell faced charges of sexual misconduct and obstruction of justice stemming from an incident where he is accused of accepting sexual favors in exchange for dropping a DWI investigation. As reported by CBS17, Cogdell, who is 28, could spend more than seven years in prison if convicted.
Details emerged that Cogdell responded to a single car crash on September 12 involving a woman suspected of driving while impaired. Instead of completing the DWI investigation, he allegedly drove the woman to his apartment, where, while still on duty, sexual acts are alleged to have taken place. Cogdell, has been fired from the police department as of October 3, following these allegations, "Do you have anything to say to the people you were sworn to serve and protect?" a reporter from WRAL News asked Cogdell after the court session, but the former officer offered no comment.
The victim's attorney, W. Stacy Miller, emphasized the distress caused to his client, who's aiming to hold Cogdell accountable. "Very devastating for her. She's been very traumatized through this whole process," Miller stated in a coverage by CBS17. Miller pointed out that the woman is "a strong young woman" and he credited her strength as a means to stop "a sexual predator."
In the aftermath of the scandal, the Raleigh Police Department's credibility was brought into question, as actions like these cast shadows on the integrity of law enforcement, Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce noted in a statement to ABC11. "The actions that led to Mr. Cogdell's arrest reflect poorly on the Raleigh Police Department and cast a shadow on the integrity that we worked so hard to uphold," Boyce expressed, affirming that no one is immune to accountability, not even those wearing the badge.
As the case unfolds, Wake County District Attorney Lorin Freeman has indicated that her office is open to investigating additional cases that may involve Cogdell. Attorney Miller believes other victims may be out there and has been contacted by others since the news broke. Cogdell is scheduled to return to court on October 27, according to reporting by ABC11.
