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Former Dewey Beach officer convicted for assault

Delaware Public Media

The Delaware Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust convicts a former Dewey Beach police officer for an assault he lied about.

 

In 2019, then Dewey Beach officer Gregory Lynch climbed onto a stretcher and repeatedly punched an injured, unaggressive victim in the face, leaving them with a concussion and broken nose.

 

Lynch later lied in a sworn affidavit that the victim had strangled someone and inappropriately touched a police officer, claims later debunked by EMTs and fellow officers.

 

Attorney General Kathy Jennings says in a statement “Abuse of authority, brutality and dishonesty are cardinal sins for any law enforcement officer.”

 

Jennings thanks the EMTs and officers that came forward after the beating and blew a whistle on his actions.

 

Lynch pleaded guilty Wednesday to perjury and assault. He’ll serve one year of supervised probation and be permanently barred from serving as a police officer.

 

With his felony conviction, Lynch will also be prohibited from buying or possessing a firearm.

 

Roman Battaglia is a corps member withReport for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms.

Roman Battaglia grew up in Portland, Ore, and now reports for Delaware Public Media as a Report For America corps member. He focuses on politics, elections and legislation activity at the local, county and state levels.