NOPD veteran booked on domestic abuse count

Dec. 29--A New Orleans Police Department veteran has been placed on emergency suspension after his arrest on a domestic abuse count.

The Police Department's Public Integrity Bureau arrested Officer Robert Dees Jr., 34, on a single count of domestic abuse battery on Christmas Eve. Details of the incident, which involved Dees's girlfriend, were not immediately available.

The arrest was first reported by WWL-TV.

Magistrate Commissioner Jonathan Friedman set Dees's bail at $350, according to court records. He has been out of custody since his release from jail on Christmas Day.

Dees has been a police officer for 13 years. He was assigned to the Special Operations Division as of March, according to department records.

"Allegations of domestic abuse are taken very seriously by NOPD and are investigated thoroughly," a Police Department spokesman said in a statement. "Allegations of domestic abuse were made against Officer Robert Dees and corroborated by witnesses in the area. From those allegations, Officers Dees was subsequently arrested by the Public Integrity Bureau."

Dees's defense attorney, Donovan Livaccari of the Fraternal Order of Police, said he expected that a full probe into the incident will vindicate his client.

"I look forward to the completion of the investigation. I'm confident that Officer Dees will be cleared," he said.

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