Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 35-year-old Derek Vasquez of West Seneca pleaded guilty, as charged, before Elma Town Justice Robert J. Pierce to one count of Official Misconduct, a Class “A” misdemeanor. The defendant pleaded guilty on Thursday, February 6, 2020.

The defendant, while working as an officer for the West Seneca Police Department, had an on-duty sexual encounter in January 2019 with a victim of a domestic violence incident. The defendant had previous contact with this person after filing a Domestic Incident Report on her behalf in the weeks prior to the incident.

The defendant, while on-duty as a police officer, presented himself at the home of the victim for no other purposes than a sexual encounter. He was not dispatched to the location of the encounter for an official call.

Vasquez resigned from the West Seneca Police Department at the time of his plea. His case will be transferred to the Buffalo Veterans Court. Upon successful completion of the program, the charge against Vasquez will be reduced to one count of Disorderly Conduct, a violation. He remains released on his own recognizance.

Town Justice Pierce issued a one year no-contact order of protection on behalf of the witness in the case.

DA Flynn commends the West Seneca Police Department as well as the New York State Police Major Crimes Unit for their work in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Stephen C. Earnhart of the DA’s Special Victims Bureau.