RALEIGH, NC - A police officer with the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) has been accused of committing a sex crime while on duty. The officer, 28-year-old Tremale Cogdell, faces felony charges of sexual misconduct of a person in custody and obstruction of justice.
He also faces a misdemeanor charge of willful neglect of duties, WRAL reported. On Friday, October 3, RPD and the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) held a news conference to discuss Cogdell's arrest. "What I'm to share with you today is both troubling and disgraceful," RPD Chief Rico Boyce said of Cogdell's charges.
Boyce stated that the SBI contacted RPD on September 26 regarding an alleged incident involving Cogdell that occurred earlier in the month. The officer was put on administrative leave the same day, according to Boyce. The chief said that Cogdell encountered a victim of a crash investigation in the early morning hours of September 12 in Raleigh.
"After completing a call for service, Mr. Cogdell drove the victim back to his personal residence in his city of Raleigh police vehicle, and a sexual encounter occurred while Mr. Cogdell was on duty," Boyce said. The chief said that the department fired Cogdell on Friday morning, October 3.
Court documents state that Cogdell obstructed justice "by failing to conduct and charge a DWI investigation in exchange for sexual acts. This offense was done in secrecy and malice." The details surrounding the September 12 crash were unclear.
"This was a motor vehicle crash," Boyce said. "I don't have the details of that specific case, but it involved a vehicle collision here in the city of Raleigh."
Cogdell had worked for RPD's Field Operations Division in the downtown district since June 22, 2022, according to Boyce. "I'm disturbed about this. It bothers me," the chief said. "As a member of this community, as the chief, it's not easy for me to stand up here and say that I arrested one of my officers."
"I want to applaud the victim for coming forward in this case, and I offer my heartfelt support to her, her family, and to anyone who has been affected by this deeply disturbing incident," Boyce added.
Raleigh-based attorney Stacy Miller said he represents the victim. "There's nothing scarier than a sexual predator with a badge," Miller said in a statement. "He clearly would have done this again if not for the courage of our client, who is a strong, brave young woman."
Boyce said RPD opened an internal investigation on Cogdell in addition to the SBI's investigation. "I am angry and disheartened both as a police chief and as a member of this community," Boyce said. "The actions that led to Mr. Cogdell's arrest reflect poorly on the Raleigh Police Department and cast a shadow on the integrity that we work so hard to uphold."
"This is a reminder that no one is above accountability, not even those who wear the badge," Boyce added. "But I want to be clear, this arrest does not define who we are." A reporter asked Boyce whether anyone had complaints about Cogdell's previous conduct. "We're looking into all that right now," the chief confirmed.
Boyce was asked if Raleigh police and the public could trust the integrity of other cases Cogdell was involved in. "Everything right now involving that officer is under review with the Wake County District Attorney's Office as well as the Raleigh Police Department Internal Affairs Unit," Boyce said.
"We would not be surprised if he has committed this brazen conduct in the past," Miller said. "We're investigating that as well and encourage any other victims to reach out to our firm." Cogdell is on a $30,000 bond at the Wake County Detention Center. His next court appearance is Monday, October 6, at 1:30 p.m.
He also faces a misdemeanor charge of willful neglect of duties, WRAL reported. On Friday, October 3, RPD and the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) held a news conference to discuss Cogdell's arrest. "What I'm to share with you today is both troubling and disgraceful," RPD Chief Rico Boyce said of Cogdell's charges.
Boyce stated that the SBI contacted RPD on September 26 regarding an alleged incident involving Cogdell that occurred earlier in the month. The officer was put on administrative leave the same day, according to Boyce. The chief said that Cogdell encountered a victim of a crash investigation in the early morning hours of September 12 in Raleigh.
"After completing a call for service, Mr. Cogdell drove the victim back to his personal residence in his city of Raleigh police vehicle, and a sexual encounter occurred while Mr. Cogdell was on duty," Boyce said. The chief said that the department fired Cogdell on Friday morning, October 3.
Court documents state that Cogdell obstructed justice "by failing to conduct and charge a DWI investigation in exchange for sexual acts. This offense was done in secrecy and malice." The details surrounding the September 12 crash were unclear.
"This was a motor vehicle crash," Boyce said. "I don't have the details of that specific case, but it involved a vehicle collision here in the city of Raleigh."
Cogdell had worked for RPD's Field Operations Division in the downtown district since June 22, 2022, according to Boyce. "I'm disturbed about this. It bothers me," the chief said. "As a member of this community, as the chief, it's not easy for me to stand up here and say that I arrested one of my officers."
"I want to applaud the victim for coming forward in this case, and I offer my heartfelt support to her, her family, and to anyone who has been affected by this deeply disturbing incident," Boyce added.
Raleigh-based attorney Stacy Miller said he represents the victim. "There's nothing scarier than a sexual predator with a badge," Miller said in a statement. "He clearly would have done this again if not for the courage of our client, who is a strong, brave young woman."
Boyce said RPD opened an internal investigation on Cogdell in addition to the SBI's investigation. "I am angry and disheartened both as a police chief and as a member of this community," Boyce said. "The actions that led to Mr. Cogdell's arrest reflect poorly on the Raleigh Police Department and cast a shadow on the integrity that we work so hard to uphold."
"This is a reminder that no one is above accountability, not even those who wear the badge," Boyce added. "But I want to be clear, this arrest does not define who we are." A reporter asked Boyce whether anyone had complaints about Cogdell's previous conduct. "We're looking into all that right now," the chief confirmed.
Boyce was asked if Raleigh police and the public could trust the integrity of other cases Cogdell was involved in. "Everything right now involving that officer is under review with the Wake County District Attorney's Office as well as the Raleigh Police Department Internal Affairs Unit," Boyce said.
"We would not be surprised if he has committed this brazen conduct in the past," Miller said. "We're investigating that as well and encourage any other victims to reach out to our firm." Cogdell is on a $30,000 bond at the Wake County Detention Center. His next court appearance is Monday, October 6, at 1:30 p.m.
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2025-10-06T19:18-0400 | Comment by: James
Black!