Unmasking Power Abuse: Police Officers Zachary Fecsko and Aaron Dalton Face Federal Lawsuit for Alleged Misconduct

Westover Officers Zachary Fecsko & Aaron Dalton Face Multiple Misconduct Allegations

WESTOVER, W.Va. — Two Westover Police Department officers, Officer Zachary Fecsko and Lt. Aaron Dalton, are at the center of several high-profile civil rights lawsuits and internal disciplinary proceedings alleging excessive force, misconduct, wrongful arrests, and abuses of authority.

🔴 January 1, 2019 – Beating of Andre Howton

On New Year’s Day 2019, officers Fecsko and Dalton responded to a call at Andre Howton’s residence. Body cam footage captured Fecsko pulling Howton from his home, throwing him onto concrete, and striking him at least 13 times, with Dalton encouraging Fecsko’s actions wdtv.com+11wvmetronews.com+11dominionpost.com+11. Howton, a 54-year-old Black man, suffered multiple facial fractures and lost three teeth dominionpost.com+4dominionpost.com+4wvmetronews.com+4. Although initially arrested on municipal charges, those charges were later dropped dominionpost.com+11wboy.com+11wvmetronews.com+11. The city paid a $350,000 settlement under a federal civil rights lawsuit wboy.com+6dominionpost.com+6dominionpost.com+6.

🟠 August 25, 2019 – Assault of William Cox

On August 25, 2019, Dalton and Officer Justice Carver arrested William Cox for filming a marked police cruiser. Cox alleges Dalton and Carver beat him, kicked and pepper-sprayed him before falsely arresting him. The officers also confiscated his phone, which remained missing for nearly two years dominionpost.com+5dominionpost.com+5dominionpost.com+5. The city settled this lawsuit for $750,000 dominionpost.com+3dominionpost.com+3dominionpost.com+3.

🟡 August 26, 2020 – Illegal Search at Econo Lodge

The following year in August 2020, Dalton led a search of a hotel room for a burglary suspect without a warrant or consent, a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment. Body cam footage confirms the illegal search, and evidence was later ruled inadmissible dominionpost.com.

⚠️ Systemic Misconduct Allegations & Internal Fallout

A group of 11 department employees and officers signed a letter in August 2020 demanding Dalton’s removal, accusing him of widespread misconduct, including civil rights violations, harassment, racism, destruction of property belonging to homeless individuals, and falsifying paperwork dominionpost.com+1dominionpost.com+1.

Christine Riley, a former administrative assistant, alleged retaliation after supporting the letter and received a $90,000 settlement when she was laid off dominionpost.com+3dominionpost.com+3dominionpost.com+3.

A state investigation into the Westover PD revealed a broader “culture of violence and silence.” Complaints against Fecsko and Dalton were seldom addressed, and retaliation against whistleblowers was commonplace wdtv.com+11dominionpost.com+11dominionpost.com+11.

👥 Dalton’s Termination & Civil Service Hearings

Dalton was placed on paid administrative leave in August 2020. In February 2022, he was formally dismissed following findings that he bullied coworkers—though the Civil Service Commission controversially upheld his firing based on these peer-related allegations and not for the alleged constitutional rights violations dominionpost.com.

In early 2023, civil service hearings examined whether his dismissal followed proper procedure. Dalton refiled a lawsuit in April 2023, alleging whistleblower retaliation, defamation, violation of due process, and defamation orchestrated by Fecsko and Chief Richard Panico dominionpost.com+1dominionpost.com+1. Hearings continued multiple days into May 2023 dominionpost.com+2dominionpost.com+2dominionpost.com+2.

🏢 Independent Settlements Confirm Misconduct

Westover’s insurer ultimately settled the two major lawsuits—$750,000 in the Cox case and $350,000 in the Howton case—totaling over $1.1 million, underscoring the weight of evidence against both officers dominionpost.com+8dominionpost.com+8dominionpost.com+8.

🔍 Public Impact & Policy Implications

These cases reveal deep challenges within Westover’s law enforcement culture: systemic violence, violations of civil rights, weak internal accountability, and suppression of whistleblowers dominionpost.com. Community leaders and residents have called for comprehensive reforms, greater transparency, and stronger protections for people affected by police misconduct.

⏭ What’s Next

• The Civil Service Commission is expected to issue a final ruling on Dalton’s termination.

• Dalton’s ongoing lawsuit against the city aims for substantial damages and to compel the removal of records deemed improperly filed.

• Any potential discipline or dismissal for Fecsko or systemic reforms within the Westover Police Department remain to be seen.

Conclusion
The conduct of Officers Fecsko and Dalton has cost the city over a million dollars and shattered public trust. The outcomes of Dalton’s civil service hearing and lawsuit, along with broader police reforms, will be a critical test for accountability and transparency in law enforcement across Westover.

This investigation continues. Updated statements from Westover officials and legal filings will be published as available.