Documents: Officer used uniform to sneak into Super Bowl hotel, see Pats players

ATLANTA — Channel 2 Action News has learned that a high-ranking police captain used his uniform and patrol car to get into restricted areas of the Super Bowl in hopes of meeting Patriots players, according to documents.

DeKalb County police documents reveal that Capt. Curtis Williams, a Patriots fan, put on his department-issued uniform and drove himself and his fiance in his squad car to the Hyatt Regency hotel downtown where the Patriots were staying.

Williams was not assigned to any Super Bowl details and did not have credentials to access restricted areas, documents say.

Documents that are part of an internal investigation show Williams took pictures and videos of the players on his personal phone in restricted areas. He even photographed Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's car in the garage.

Channel 2's Tyisha Fernandes was at the Hyatt, where video shot by our ABC affiliate in Boston showed Williams in a restricted area near the hotel while he was supposed to be off duty.

The footage was shot Jan. 27 the day the Patriots were getting off of their team bus and checking in to the hotel.

A City of Atlanta employee ended up reporting him and the DeKalb County police chief launched an internal investigation.

Documents outlining the investigation say that Williams, a 24-year veteran of the department, is guilty of three violations: Abusing his police power for personal gain, allowing his fiance to ride in his department-issued vehicle and displaying unbecoming conduct as an officer.

Williams admitted that he drove down to the hotel in an attempt to meet players.

"I allowed my excitement for the New England Patriots coming to town for the Super Bowl to get the best of me," Williams said in a statement during the course of the investigation.

Fernandes talked to Vince Champion, who represents officers with the International Brotherhood of Police. He said Williams' actions were regrettable.

"I do understand it's a small thing, yeah he got in to see some NFL players, but it does beg the question, 'What has he used it for before or what will he use it for in the future?'" Champion said. "It just comes down to the bottom line of ethics.

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Fernandes learned that after the five-week investigation, DeKalb police Chief James Conroy decided not to punish or demote Williams, just transferred him from his position at the police academy to a different department. It's unclear which department he was transferred to.

Fernandes requested a sit-down interview with Conroy, but he was unavailable Thursday. Officials did send Fernandes the following statement:

'The actions of Captain Williams did not meet the standards of the DeKalb County Police Department.  His actions violated department policy and procedures. He received corrective action and was transferred from his position as the Director of the Police Academy.'

Union officials believe that even though Williams is still employed with the department, all of his past decisions will be under scrutiny now, as well as his future decisions.

Cox Media Group