DATE: Thursday, October 2, 1997             TAG: 9710020565

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 

DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                    LENGTH:   28 lines

PROBATIONARY POLICE OFFICER DISCHARGED

A police officer sworn in last January has been discharged from the Elizabeth City Police Department.

Nicole Zenobile, 24, had planned to become a career police officer but never made it through a 12-month probationary period.

Earlier this year Zenobile and her superior officer, Sgt. Al Sanderlin, were placed on administrative leave after she accused him of sexually exploiting her during a party in fall 1996.

Officials would not release the results of a State Bureau of Investigation study of the incident. Sanderlin was fired from the department in late August.

In August, Zenobile was acquitted in district court of communicating threats during a domestic dispute with the former wife of Zenobile's fiance; he also is an Elizabeth City police officer.

City Manager Steve Harrell would not say whether the discharge was related to the incidents.

``We felt it was in the interest of both parties that her probationary period not be fulfilled,'' Harrell said.

Zenobile could not be reached for comment. KEYWORDS: SEXUAL MISCONDUCT SEXUAL HARRASSMENT ELIZABETH CITY

POLICE DEPARTMENT

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