Former Buffalo Grove cop pleads guilty to obstruction of justice
A former Buffalo Grove police officer once charged with felony official misconduct for releasing official information to an unauthorized person pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in Lake County court Friday.
Lauren Greenwood, 27, of Mundelein, was placed on 12 months probation and is required to perform 50 hours of community service as part of the negotiated plea deal to one misdemeanor count of obstructing justice, said Cynthia Vargas, spokeswoman for the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.
Greenwood was also told she will never be allowed to return to being a police officer, is not allowed to have a firearm, and must surrender her firearm owners identification card. She also must undergo required mental health evaluations, Vargas said.
Prosecutors dropped the official misconduct charge, and misdemeanor counts of possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia in front of Judge Daniel Shanes in exchange for the guilty plea, Vargas said. Greenwood did not make a statement during the court hearing.
Greenwood was charged Dec. 15 after officials discovered she accessed a police database and gave information to an unauthorized individual for personal gain, authorities said. She was facing 3 to 7 years in prison if she had been found guilty at trial.
She voluntarily resigned her position with the Buffalo Grove Police Department after her arrest in December.