By Craig Anderson

DOVER — A 30-year-old former Dover police officer pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors Tuesday, after he was found unconscious in his patrol car last year and later tested positive for fentanyl and cannabinoid.

Following the pre-indictment plea announced by the Delaware Department of Justice, Steven Vieira of Townsend was sentenced to 12 months in prison, a term suspended to 12 months on Level II probation.

With the plea, Vieira resigned from the department, surrendered all Council on Police Training certifications and is permanently ineligible to serve as a police officer.

The Department of Correction defines Level II as the standard probation/parole supervision program. According to DOC, “Offenders on Level II supervision are to meet with their Probation Officer on a regular schedule to comply with contact requirements based on risks/needs assessments. Level II Probation/parole Officers serve in the Traditional roles of counseling.”

DOJ said that then-Pfc. Vieira was showing signs of an overdose when found in his patrol vehicle Nov. 26, 2021. He had gone missing after dispatch repeatedly and unsuccessfully tried to reach him for approximately 12 minutes, assisted by the GPS in the vehicle, authorities said.

Officers located Vieira in a secluded area near Dover’s Schutte Park and administered two doses of naloxone. Police said he began to revive and was transported to Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus in Dover.

While police initially believed Vieira had suffered an accidental fentanyl exposure during his duties, a search of his vehicle located “an eyeglass case (in his personal bag) containing what was determined to be oxycodone hydrochloride, a prescription opioid, and various drug paraphernalia. A subsequent blood test revealed fentanyl and cannabinoid in Vieira’s system,” authorities said.

Dover police added that an “investigation subsequently confirmed that Vieira did not have a prescription for any opioids or for legal cannabis use.”

During the investigation, a review of every drug-related arrest during Vieira’s 2½ years of service revealed no evidence of misconduct, police said.

Dover police placed Vieira on administrative leave Nov. 27, pending its own internal investigation, notified DOJ and cooperated fully in the ensuing investigation, Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings said.

Dover police issued its own news release, adding details to DOJ’s announcement.

“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,” said Dover Police Chief Thomas Johnson Jr.

“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.”

Also, Chief Johnson said, “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 (led) 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.”

Ms. Jennings said the case puts a spotlight on the wide-ranging reach and dangers of illegal drug use.

“This should remind us that the addiction epidemic affects everyone,” she said. “The defendant’s conduct was obviously illegal, totally incompatible with the standards we should hold law enforcement to, and could easily have turned deadly for him or someone else — he is frankly fortunate that his fellow officers found him in time to save his life.

“At the same time, justice in these situations requires both accountability and compassion. The defendant’s struggle with substance abuse is a familiar story for thousands of Delawareans, and just like anyone else he has our empathy in his journey to recovery. This sentence allows him to get the help he needs while permanently separating him from a position of public trust because he can no longer be trusted.”

Deputy attorney general Mark Denney represented the state in the case, following a Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust investigation led by Tim Argoe.