Press Releases
11/10/2020
University of Connecticut Police Officer Charged with Stalking, Computer Crime and Harassment
A University of Connecticut Police Department Officer was arrested today and charged with stalking and harassing two University of Connecticut employees.
Peter J. Zavickas, age 54, a 17-year veteran of the University of Connecticut Police Department, was arrested by an Inspector from the Tolland State’s Attorney’s Office on a warrant charging him with two counts of Electronic Stalking, two counts of Stalking in the Second Degree, two counts of Computer Crime in the Third Degree, two counts of Computer Crime in the Fifth Degree and Harassment in the Second Degree. The arrest was announced today by Tolland State’s Attorney Matthew C. Gedansky.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, an investigation showed that for about a year, Zavickas stalked, harassed and photographed two University of Connecticut Division of Public Safety employees by monitoring their movements and activities using the university’s statewide camera system and while following them in his personal vehicle.
The investigation showed that between September 30, 2019 and October 21, 2020, Zavickas, who is assigned to the University of Connecticut’s Avery Point campus, monitored live video and searched archived video of two University of Connecticut Public Safety parking lots on the Storrs campus. A law enforcement incident reporting system showed Zavickas had no legitimate business purpose to utilize the camera system to view footage on the Storrs campus, according to the affidavit. Additionally, Zavickas is alleged to have driven to the Storrs campus and followed the victims while trying to avoid detection.
The investigation also showed that in May 2020, Zavickas used the Connecticut On-Line Law Enforcement Communications Teleprocessing (COLLECT) System without justification. COLLECT is utilized throughout Connecticut to access online State and Federal law enforcement resources. The use of the COLLECT database for personal reasons is strictly prohibited and constitutes a violation, abuse and unauthorized use of the system, according to the affidavit.
“The victims in this case were greatly affected by Mr. Zavickas’ actions,” State’s Attorney Gedansky said. “The Division of Criminal Justice is committed to applying the law fairly and equally. No one is above the law, including those who are given the responsibility to serve and protect the public.”
Zavickas was released on $25,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Tolland Superior Court on November 12, 2020. The charges are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Tolland State’s Attorney’s Office is grateful for the assistance it received in this investigation from the University of Connecticut and the City of Groton Police Department.
The case will be prosecuted by State’s Attorney Gedansky.