A Louisville Metro Police officer is facing misconduct charges after he allegedly asked a woman to expose herself and later touched her improperly.Officer Joe Burden is accused of asking the women to partially strip her clothes in October, after detaining her during a call to service and falsely telling her she had a warrant—and that other officers wanted her arrested, according to a criminal complaint summons. She complied.Soon after, the woman filed a complaint with LMPD’s Public Integrity Unit.In December, police set up a controlled call in which the woman called Burden and asked to meet so they could discuss a speeding ticket. They ended up at Riverside Gardens Park, where Burden allegedly asked—and then proceeded to—touch the woman’s breast, according to court records. LMPD's Public Integrity Unit then intervened.Burden, 41, has been charged with first-degree official misconduct, aClass A misdemeanor.Burden was working as a patrol officer in the Second Division, which covers portions of western Louisville, said Dwight Mitchell, an LMPD spokesman. Burden has been an LMPD officer for eight years.He’s been placed on paid administrative duty. Steve Schroering, Burden’s attorney, said the officer maintains his innocence and is now looking to clear his name.(Image via Shutterstock.)
