OPD chief: Reserve officer staying on job while off-duty incident investigated

ORLANDO, Fla. — 9 Investigates questioned Orlando police Chief John Mina about one of his reserve officers who chased after shoplifting suspects and crashed into an innocent driver while off-duty.
 
Mina said he doesn't see a reason to take reserve Officer David McKinnon off the street until the internal investigation into the incident and the officer's actions until it is completed.

Mina said McKinnon has never caused any issues and sometimes works as a school resource officer.

Raw: Mina says reserve officer involved in chase to keep working

Raw: Listen to the 911 call

Raw: See the surveillance video 

McKinnon was off-duty at an Ocoee Best Buy on Old Colonial Road when police said the suspects stole video-game systems. Police said the officer pursued the suspects in his personal vehicle.

The suspects crashed into an SUV and began to run away near Hiawassee Road and 408 when McKinnon got out of his vehicle and threatened to kill one of the suspects.
 
"Police officer. I'll blow your (expletive) brains out," McKinnon can be heard saying in his 911 call to authorities. "You're going to jail (expletive). Get on the (expletive) ground."

Mina said he had a lot of questions after reading the Ocoee police report, so he ordered the investigation.
 
"I'm not going to take any action until I have a complete investigation," Mina said.
 
When asked if it was appropriate for an officer to say he was going to "blow your (expletive) brains out," Mina said the suspects are grand theft suspects, but any language used during the incident will be part of the internal investigation.
 
Mina said the department's firearms policy covers off-duty officers. It says officers should only get involved in serious misdemeanor or felony cases and must be within his or her jurisdiction.
 
McKinnon was outside his jurisdiction in Ocoee.

Reserve officers are retired officers who volunteer 12 hours a month and have the same power within the city of Orlando as full-time officers.

McKinnon said he’s a paid contractor with OPD to work as a school resource officer, something he’s still able to do despite the investigation.

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