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Laurel school resources officer identified, resigns amid sexual misconduct allegations

Posted at 10:55 PM, Oct 17, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-17 18:09:12-04

LAUREL, Mont. – The City of Laurel said a veteran of the Laurel Police Department has resigned amid a sexual misconduct investigation involving a 16-year-old high school student.

Laurel Chief Administrative Officer Matthew Lurker released more information about the investigation Wednesday morning.

The officer was identified as Fred Gregory, an 11-year veteran of the force.

Lurker said the City of Laurel was nearing completion of its internal investigation into the potential sexual misconduct of Gregory when the officer resigned through the delivery of a written resignation to the Laurel Chief of Police.

The city accepted Gregory’s resignation and terminated its administrative investigation.

The investigation revealed that Gregory and a 16-year-old high school student had developed a friendship and began trading emails and text messages at the close of the 2017 school year.

The emails and texts apparently turned flirtatious and inappropriate.

During July of 2017, Gregory and the student met at a Billings residence and had sexual contact. It was reported that the relationship was terminated shortly after the one-time meeting.

Lurker said in the release that at no time in this matter were students exposed to any danger.

“The City regrets the position of privacy it was forced to take in this matter, however facts had to be investigated and gathered before any conclusions could be made,” he said in the release.

Gregory was immediately removed from the high school as was deemed appropriate.

Since the physical contact occurred in Billings, Laurel city officials will refer the matter to the City of Billings or Yellowstone County with a request for their review to determine if any criminal charge is warranted.

However, the administrative proceeding has been terminated since Gregory is no longer employed by the City of Laurel.

Story by Andrea Lutz, MTN News