Danville officer facing domestic assault charge back at job

By Staff

Published: October 8, 2008

Danville Police Sgt. Jerry L. Pace has returned to administrative desk duty after being on administrative leave, Chief Philip Broadfoot said in a statement released Wednesday.

Pace was arrested by the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 30 on a charge of domestic assault.

Pace was placed on administrative leave until his arraignment on Tuesday, Broadfoot said.

“I have reviewed the preliminary findings of the department’s internal affairs investigation into this matter,” Broadfoot said. “I have determined that it is appropriate to return Sgt. Pace to administrative desk duty, effective today (Wednesday), until the conclusion of the internal investigation and all court proceedings, at which time a final decision on the status of Sgt. Pace will be made.”

Pace, a member of the police department’s Investigations Division and president of the Fraternal Order of Police, was arrested and charged with assault after a deputy responded to a domestic violence call in the county, Sheriff Mike Taylor said Monday.

Authorities have not said whether the woman Pace is accused of assaulting is his girlfriend or wife, and have not released any other evidence from the case.

Pace was released on bond.

The sergeant also was charged with assault in December 2003 after a dispute with his girlfriend and her daughter, but those charges were dropped in May 2004.