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Helicopter Officer Scolded For Chase Comments

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TBO.com

Published: August 14, 2008

TAMPA - An officer with Tampa police's helicopter unit was reprimanded and given a "letter of counseling" after he made inappropriate comments in February when chasing a man in a stolen vehicle, authorities said.

Officer Alban Goodrum was flying on routine patrol with Tampa police pilot Jeffery Gray about 11 p.m. Feb. 24 when they spotted a suspicious vehicle at Beach Street and Rome Avenue, according to a police report.

On the ground, Officer Kiet Truong and his partner approached the vehicle, a Corvette, and attempted to speak to the driver. Moments later, the Corvette took off, but Truong, 32, held on.

He was dragged several blocks and suffered bruises, scrapes, cuts and swelling to the knees, arms, head and hands, a criminal arrest affidavit states.

Goodrum made inappropriate comments about the scene below, which were taped by the cockpit's audio recorder but not broadcast over the radio, according to an Aug. 6 letter from Largo attorney John Trevena to Tampa Police Chief Stephen Hogue.

On the recording, Goodrum cursed at the driver of the Corvette and can be heard saying, "There ya go . . . take him out . . . there ya go . . . yeah!" and "I was just cheering them on a little bit," according to Trevena's letter.

Gray, the helicopter pilot, was heard admonishing Goodrum. "Yeah, yeah, but you got to watch . . . you can't do that on the video," Gray told the aviation officer.

Goodrum was "promptly admonished shortly after this incident" and his "comments were unprofessional and contrary to the policies and regulations of this agency," Hogue said in an Aug. 12 letter to Trevena.

In his reports regarding the Feb. 24 chase, Goodrum said he was "extremely concerned for Officer Truong" and that, "I let my judgment lapse momentarily."

Trevena said he reviewed the audio and video recordings of the incident at the request of a colleague, attorney M. Everett Goerge, who represents Legrand B. Pratt Jr., the driver of the Corvette.

"While no one condones the alleged actions of Mr. Pratt, it does not give the police a license to use incitive language and unnecessary or excessive force," Trevena said.

Pratt was "forcibly drug from the car, placed on the ground and battered for several minutes," Trevena said in his letter.

Hogue said the video in infrared mode did not show "any real detail of the force utilized other than an officer attempting to remove Mr. Pratt from his vehicle by means of an arm-bar technique." Hogue added, "We note that immediately after his arrest, Mr. Pratt was apparently able to walk unassisted to a police vehicle."

Pratt, 42, was charged with felony attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, felony aggravated fleeing to elude, felony grand theft auto and misdemeanor driving without a valid license, among other charges.

Pratt is being held without bail in Orient Road Jail as he awaits trial.

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