ORLANDO, Fla. — 9 Investigates has reported on local cops suspected of stealing, driving drunk and even accepting money from a prostitute in exchange for perceived protection.
Those officers were all investigated by other officers and all cleared to keep their certification.
Investigative reporter Karla Ray spent weeks going through the state’s officer discipline database.
She found less than a third of local law enforcement officers accused of wrongdoing actually lose the right to carry a badge.
Watch this story Monday on Eyewitness News at 5:30 p.m.
Local cops suspected of stealing, driving drunk, and even one who admitted to accepting money from a prostitute in exchange for perceived protection, were all investigated by other officers, and all cleared to keep their law enforcement certification, 9 Investigates learned.
Channel 9's investigative reporter Karla Ray spent weeks going through the state's officer discipline database and found less than a third of local cops accused of wrongdoing actually lose the right to carry a badge.
Just one example: the former Casselberry Police Chief, Bill McNeil, who admitted to sexting a subordinate female officer, just learned he will keep his certification after a six-month suspension.
Former Seminole County Deputy Chad Tavenner, who took no report and no action during a domestic violence injunction violation call earlier this year, also kept his certification. Tavenner was fired from the sheriff's office after the victim in the domestic violence case was killed along with her children a week later at the hands of Henry Brown, who had the permanent injunction, investigators said. Brown later killed himself.
“It’s not surprising. It is sad, but it’s not surprising,” said law enforcement expert Chuck Drago.
9 Investigates spent weeks analyzing the Florida Department of Law Enforcement discipline data. Over the past two years, the state has reviewed 160 local cases of officer and corrections officer indiscretion. Of that, only 26 officers, or 16 percent of all cases, resulted in a loss of certification through relinquishment or revocation by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.
9 Investigates discovered 67.5 percent of the cases were thrown out because the allegations didn’t rise to the level of a “moral character violation.”
“There are a lot of officers who commit some serious offenses that still don't get their certification pulled,” Drago said.
That also includes former Orlando Lieutenant Sam 'Buddy' Riggi, who admitted to accepting money from a prostitute, which she told investigators she interpreted as a form of protection against arrest. Chief John Mina terminated him.
“Although that person still may have their certification, if they were just terminated from an agency, they still have a discipline, so another agency would probably not hire them,” Mina said.
9 Investigates found out some officers resign before they’re fired, including a Fruitland Park officer suspected of stealing cellphones during traffic stops, and a Volusia County Deputy suspected of drinking and driving. Those officers were never criminally prosecuted, so no action could be taken against their certification.
“I know all the chiefs in this area, they're not going to lower their standards to that low, where they're going to have to take someone they thought should have had their certification revoked,” Mina said.
Even when an officer’s actions prompt further review, the process is lengthy.
McNeil’s discipline was just settled this month, two years after his resignation.