Webster officer found off-duty cop reportedly passed out in a car. He didn't test or arrest him.

A Webster police officer has been disciplined for failing to properly investigate an incident in which a Rochester police officer was found possibly drunk and passed out in his personal car.

The Rochester officer, Brian Abrams, reportedly passed out in his vehicle, also became the focus of an internal investigation.

The Webster officer, Sgt. Michael Wilder, turned his body-worn camera off during the April 1 interaction with Abrams on Orchard Street in the Village of Webster. Wilder also did not investigate whether Abrams was drunk. Instead, he allowed the officer to be taken away from the location.

"Shortly into his investigation, Sgt. Wilder deactivated the BWC camera, so the rest of the interaction was not captured, and no documentation was generated," said Webster Police Chief Dennis Kohlmeier.

Sgt. Wilder also waved off emergency medical responders.

Internal discipline has been meted out to Wilder, and he is challenging the disciplinary decision, Kohlmeier said.

What happened with reportedly 'passed out' cop in car?

Webster Chief Kohlmeier said his office reached out to the Monroe County District Attorney's Office about the incident on April 2.

First Assistant District Attorney Perry Duckles said the conversation focused on the decisions by the sergeant, Wilder, who has been honored for past police work, and not on whether Abrams could be prosecuted.

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In a statement, Rochester Police Capt. Gregory Bello said, "We are aware of an incident on April 1st, 2024, involving an off-duty member of the Rochester Police Department.  Upon learning of the incident, Chief Smith immediately ordered an internal investigation by the Professional Standards Section.  It should be noted, that the Officer was on leave at the time of the incident and remains on leave."

The Democrat and Chronicle received the Webster police video and has reviewed the footage. According to Kohlmeier and a review of the video:

• The department received several calls about a man passed out in a car April 1 in the Village of Webster. Sgt. Wilder responded. The video shows the car stopped in the street. It's unclear if the car is running. Abrams is in the driver's seat.
• Wilder tells Abrams that he can go home, "just not in your current condition." He allows Abrams to try to reach someone to pick him up.
• As the video shows, Wilder sends responding emergency medical workers off — Abrams should have been checked for a medical emergency, Kohlmeier said — then talks with Abrams, who is having difficulty speaking.
• After only minutes, Wilder turned off the camera. This broke department policy, Kohlmeier said.
• Later, Wilder's superiors learned of the incident and opened an internal investigation.

Kohlmeier said that Wilder's actions are not indictive of the department's practices, and that's why the disciplinary investigation was quickly started. If Wilder had questions about how to handle the incident, he should have called a superior, Kohlmeier said.

Without an investigation, Abrams is still able to have a valid driver's license.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Webster officer found off-duty cop reportedly passed out in a car. He didn't test or arrest him.