A police officer who was suspended last year is no longer working for the Essex Police Department after an internal investigation confirmed at least three instances of improper conduct, including assault and sending unsolicited nude photos. The investigation also prompted Chittenden County’s top prosecutor to issue a letter questioning his credibility.
Cpl. Lance E. Martel, 36, of Williston “is no longer employed by EPD and has not been since November 2021,” Essex Police Chief Ron Hoague confirmed by email this week. He declined to comment further on what he characterized as a personnel issue.
VTDigger obtained a letter from the Essex Police Department dated May 5, 2022, which states that an internal investigation uncovered “sufficient evidence to clearly prove” three allegations in a complaint against Martel.
Those allegations were of an alleged assault on a female victim in 2017, sending unsolicited nude photos to a female victim and use of regulated hormone drugs.
The internal investigation was closed and disciplinary action taken, according to the letter. It states that the department “has done everything possible to ensure our employees are meeting high standards of conduct and professionalism.”
“There were several other allegations investigated as a part of this matter and they were determined to be not sustained as there was not enough information to prove or disprove the allegation,” the letter states.
Attempts to contact Martel were unsuccessful. His attorney, Jordan Handy, declined to comment on Monday and did not respond to subsequent emails.
Martel previously faced a charge of voyeurism last year, following a Vermont State Police investigation. Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George dismissed that case on Feb. 23, according to court records.
“I can say we dismissed due to some insurmountable evidentiary issues and there have been no other charges brought against him, but I did issue a Brady letter and that letter absolutely stands,” George said via a text message on Tuesday.
Prosecutors file so-called Giglio or Brady letters to inform defense attorneys of an officer’s possible credibility or integrity issues. They are often called scarlet letters because they stay on personnel records and can end an officer’s career.
George’s letter, dated Oct. 5, 2021, notes that she reviewed the state police and Essex police investigations.
“These investigations, coupled with a prior allegation of a similar nature, severely undermine the State’s ability to rely on his testimony as a credible witness,” George wrote in the letter. “Therefore, I am unwilling to call him as a witness and will not accept any criminal cases from him going forward.”
Martel joined the Essex Police Department in May 2015, according to his LinkedIn account.
