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Two state police troopers had their police powers revoked and were suspended this week after separate incidents involving a suspected sexual assault in Southbury and a hit-and-run crash in Brookfield.
Jose Campos II, a trooper since 2020 from Wolcott, is being investigated after sexual assault allegations were made against him by a woman in Southbury at about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Southbury constables were called to a home on Old Field Road, where police sources said Campos was present with the woman, whom he knew.
Police released no details on the incident, but police sources say the investigation also involves the suspected use by Campos of a “date-rape” drug used to incapacitate a victim and make them vulnerable to an assault.
“Jose Campos has been suspended, pending the outcome of this investigation, and his police powers have been revoked,” police said in a release. “In order to protect the integrity of this active investigation, the Connecticut State Police will not be providing further information.”
Also suspended this week was Sgt. Catherine Koeppel, who is accused of crashing her unmarked cruiser into the rear of another car on Route 7 northbound in Brookfield near the intersection of Route 202 at about 9:30 p.m. on Sunday and then fleeing the scene.
The driver of the other car, a 20-year-old woman from New Milford, was not injured but her car was heavily damaged and had to be towed.
Sources say that after leaving the scene Koeppel, who was off duty, called the local state police barracks and reported that she had struck a deer.
Troopers had also received separate calls about the accident, and were able to connect her with the crash on Route 7, according to sources.
Koeppel, 36, is also suspected of drinking alcohol before the accident, sources say, which occurred not far from where she lives and from where her Dodge Charger cruiser was towed and impounded by police.
She was charged Wednesday with following too close and evading responsibility for leaving the scene – both misdemeanors – and released on a $500 non-surety bond for an Aug. 9 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.
Koeppel became a trooper in 2009 and was most recently assigned as a detective with the department’s Major Crime Squad.
The executive director of the 900-member troopers’ union, retired trooper Andy Matthews, said he could not comment on the ongoing investigations, but added that “We ask that the public reserve judgment until all the facts are known.”
Editor’s note: This story was edited to include additional comments by Andy Matthews