CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – The New Hampshire Department of Safety is investigating a complaint against a state police officer by the head of the state police.

WMUR-TV, citing unidentified sources, reported Thursday that the lieutenant taped a belligerent and drunk man’s mouth shut while he was in custody in Laconia’s Weirs Beach neighborhood during Bike Week.

WMUR said the incident occurred in front of Col. Fred Booth, who immediately stepped in and demanded the tape be removed.

“The colonel did witness an incident that may be inappropriate,” said Earl Sweeney, assistant commissioner of safety. “We’ve launched an internal investigation,” he said.

Booth normally would handle such personnel issues, but because he is a witness and complainant it will be handled by Sweeney.

Sweeney declined to discuss details but he said if the officer is found to have done wrong, the department will take action.

“Both personnel rules and case law require us to hold in confidentiality all information in any personnel investigation,” he said.

“We have to police ourselves,” he said. “We learn by the process, and hopefully employees will also learn by the process.”

Booth did not immediately return a telephone message from The Associated Press.

AP-ES-06-30-05 1833EDT