Suspended Coast Guard officer still under investigation

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A final decision has yet to be made in the investigation of Chief Petty Officer James Weber, the commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Montauk and temporarily relieved of duty in October, said Lieutenant Erik Halvorson, first district public affairs officer for the Coast Guard. He said there is still a chance he could be reinstated to his original position.

The investigation began after it was determined that Chief Weber had violated Coast Guard policy by taking officers in his unit on a training exercise in the wake of Hurricane Bill in August, which resulted in dangerous weather and water conditions, including an extremely heavy surf that Chief Weber was not qualified to operate in, according to Coast Guard officials. The exercise was captured in a photograph taken on the beach that day that showed Chief Weber’s boat caught in a high swell. The photo, taken by photographer Thomas Colla, was later published online, in Newsday, and a similar photograph also appeared in The East Hampton Press on August 26.

Lt. Halvorson said the case currently sits with Rear Admiral Joseph Nimmich, commander of the First Coast Guard District in Boston, who is expected to take into account more than just the published photograph. Admiral Nimmich is expected to review other photographs taken by photographers that day and interviews with other officers involved in the training. Lt. Halvorson said the Coast Guard has received a large influx of support for Chief Weber from the community, including that of U.S. Representative Peter King of Nassau County.

Lt. Halvorson said Chief Weber also has the opportunity to provide his own input at this point in the investigation, which he has done, and will have another chance to speak for himself at the final stage of the investigation.

“This is his primary opportunity to provide input,” said Lt. Halvorson. “Whether there would be an opportunity for an administrative appeal wouldn’t be seen until after this initial process.”

Chief Weber has been reassigned to the Coram office of Sector Long Island Sound, a branch of the Coast Guard based in New Haven, and could not be reached for comment.

East Hampton Town Chief Harbormaster Ed Michels, who was commander of the Montauk station before retiring from the Coast Guard, said he speaks to Chief Weber frequently but could not comment on what information he provided to Admiral Nimmich. He said the community has been overwhelmingly supportive of Chief Weber and everyone hopes he will be reinstated.

“He has done a lot of good work and helped a lot of people,” he said. “Nobody was happy they removed him.”