Latina woman in cop’s uniform cannot be found

POLICE Inspector Michael Sooker who was suspended from duties after photos of a Latina woman clad in the officer’s police uniform went viral is yet to be interviewed by Professional Standard Bureau officers (PSB). Sooker was suspended from duties on May 7, three days after the photos were posted on social media.

Yesterday colleagues of the inspector said he is anxious to return to work because he has done nothing wrong and he will cooperate with investigators.

Yesterday, sources said PSB officers have photographed the office previously occupied by Insp Sooker and seized camera footage from the Morvant police station, but nothing was found to suggest the woman in the photos was ever seen entering the station where Sooker was based.

Sources also revealed that PSB officers were able to determine the Latina woman in the photo was last employed as a bartender at a club in Barataria known as Spanish Harlem. However, when investigators went to the club to interview the woman they were told she was no longer employed there.

Officers were given a first name for the woman but this was of no assistance to them. The investigators even asked immigration department to assist in identifying the woman in the photos but officers were unable to make a perfect match.

When the photos went viral officers contacted Newsday and said the woman was a regular visitor to the Morvant police station and had even attended a Christmas party at the Santa Cruz police station last year.

PSB sources said they have reached a dead end in the investigation and without a statement from the woman in the photo they may be unable to make any breakthrough in the probe.