Former Dover police officer pleads guilty to DUI and official misconduct

DOVER, Del. – A Dover police officer has pleaded guilty to DUI and official misconduct.

Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced on Tuesday that the Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust has reached a pre-indictment plea agreement with the former officer who experienced an opioid overdose in his patrol vehicle and later tested positive for fentanyl and marijuana.

On November 26, 2021, officers from the Dover Police Department located Pfc. Steven Vieira near Schutte Park after dispatch repeatedly and unsuccessfully tried to reach him. Officers found Vieira unconscious in his patrol vehicle and showing signs of overdose. After administering first aid and two doses of Narcan, officers took Vieira to Bayhealth Hospital.

Upon initial belief that Vieira had experienced an accidental fentanyl exposure during his duties, police contacted a search of his vehicle and found an eyeglass case containing what was determined to be oxycodone hydrochloride, a prescription opioid, and various drug paraphernalia. A blood test revealed fentanyl and cannabinoid in Vieira’s system.

Vieira pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs and official misconduct, and was sentenced to a 12-month prison sentence suspended to 12 months Level II probation, with his probation dischargeable following drug counseling.

As part of his plea, Vieira has resigned from the Dover Police Department and surrendered all Council on Police Training Certifications, rendering him permanently ineligible for employment as a police officer. Dover PD placed Vieira on administrative leave pending its own internal investigation, notified the Department of Justice, and cooperated fully with DCRPT’s investigation.

Dover Police Chief Thomas Johnson Jr. provided the following statement:

“Prior to November 26, 2021, PFC Vieira enjoyed a law enforcement career full of promise. He was sworn into service in February of 2019. He was working independently by the early summer and over the course of the next two and a half years, he did well. He protected the Dover community and pursued additional law enforcement education. He became certified as a Field Training Officer, earned assignment to a special unit and was recently promoted to PFC. On November 26th a series of bad personal decisions, culminated in a life-threatening opioid overdose.

When viewed through a human lens, the Dover Police Department has empathy for anyone battling the challenges associated with drug abuse and connections to treatment services were offered to our employee. However; when viewed through a professional lens, this kind of behavior can never be tolerated. Not for a minute. A trust was violated. In addition to the risks to his own life, he took chances with the safety of his co-workers and members of the public that were not his to take. Through appropriate investigation, this unprofessional conduct was determined to be criminal in nature.

Once the facts were established, it became clear that Mr. Vieira could no longer be a Police Officer. The responsibilities of the job are just too serious and the public deserves the best resources that we can provide. We have already begun to examine the factors that lead up to the overdose emergency and will evaluate them against our existing code of conduct policies and early detection mechanisms. Appropriate changes to policy and/or practice will be made at the earliest possible time.

This incident is a sharp reminder that the continuing crisis of illicit substance abuse occurs in all segments of society. Identifying those affected, and getting them into treatment, is critical to saving lives and preventing addiction’s harmful side effects. If you know someone that is suffering, please try to get them help.”