Maryland is a two-party consent state, requiring that all parties of a phone conversation must give approval of any recording being made (Linda Tripp brought that to the news headlines a few years back). I guess this sergeant didn’t realize this. It was his own conversation, but now he is suspended without pay. Be careful about what goes on in your offices.
BALTIMORE (WMAR) – A Baltimore City Police Sergeant has been indicted on charges of illegally recording, playing phone conversations with a judge.
Sgt. Carlos M. Vila was charged today with two violations of the wiretap statute and four counts of misconduct for allegedly recording a telephone conversation with a judge without her knowledge and later playing the recording.
On April 21, 2012, Vila allegedly recorded a portion of a phone conversation that he was having with Judge Joan Gordon to discuss a warrant.
It is a felony to secretly intercept wire, oral and electronic communications.
Then on May 22, he allegedly played the recording at the Southeast District Police Station. A fellow officer heard the recording and confronted Vila.
Vila has been suspended from the force without pay pending the results of the case. He is scheduled to be arraigned on October 10, 2012