November 8, 2017: Daniel E. Gosnell, Lieutenant With The Aberdeen Police Department, Charged With Misconduct In Office And Possession Of A Controlled Dangerous Substance

For Immediate Release                                                                     November 8, 2017    

DANIEL E. GOSNELL, LIEUTENANT WITH THE ABERDEEN POLICE DEPARTMENT, CHARGED WITH MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE AND POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE

State Prosecutor Emmet C. Davitt announced today that Lieutenant Daniel E. Gosnell, 38, an eighteen (18) year veteran of the Aberdeen Police Department, has been charged in Circuit Court for Harford County with misconduct in office and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. The charges allege that, between February of 2016 and August of 2017, Lt. Gosnell repeatedly stole and consumed various controlled dangerous substances to include oxycontin, oxycodone, heroin, fentanyl and cocaine from a citizen prescription drop box maintained by the Aberdeen Police Department and from the police department CDS evidence locker room. This matter was referred for prosecution to the Office of the State Prosecutor by the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office.  When the Aberdeen Police Department discovered the alleged misconduct, they immediately referred the matter to the Maryland State Police for an independent investigation.

State Prosecutor Emmet C. Davitt stated: “Police Officers take an oath to uphold the law and actions and behavior in violation of that oath and the public trust are intolerable.” The State Prosecutor thanked the Maryland State Police for their investigation of this case.

Although charged, the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until there is a conviction.