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School's Deputy Fired

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By LISA A. DAVIS

ldavis@tampatrib.com

Published: October 10, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - A Pasco County sheriff's deputy who served as a school resource officer was fired late Wednesday, accused of making an inappropriate comment to a 13-year-old girl.

Cpl. Christopher Magavero, 42, received a letter of termination from Sheriff Bob White after he confirmed that he made the comment, sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin said Thursday.

Magavero took the girl out of a class at River Ridge Middle School on Wednesday and to an administrative office for a chat.

He told her, "I feel like I'm falling in love with you," according to the sheriff's office.

The girl soon told a guidance counselor who told another school resource officer, triggering an investigation, Tobin said.

"We have no evidence that anything physical took place," Tobin said.

"The young lady became distraught, upset - and a short time after that went to the school guidance counselor," he said.
Tobin said that because of the nature of the charge and the involvement of a child, the sheriff thought immediate termination was appropriate. Often, personnel are placed on administrative leave while being investigated.

"The deputy definitely committed an incredible error in judgment," Tobin said. "When we heard the allegations, the sheriff felt he had to act and had to act swiftly."
Tobin said he was unaware of any previous disciplinary issues involving Magavero.

Magavero, who is married, has been a Pasco deputy since June 2000 and a school resource officer since 2004. He at first worked at several schools as a floating school resource officer but had been based at River Ridge since late 2004, Tobin said.

The sheriff's office is conducting a criminal investigation and then will do an internal affairs investigation.

"We'll be looking at his computer, talking to other students," Tobin said.

Magavero has three working days from the date of termination to appeal the firing.

The official reason for his firing, according to White's four-paragraph letter, is that his conduct was unbecoming of an officer.

"He lost the trust of the sheriff, and I'm sure he lost the trust of his fellow colleagues who put on the badge every day," Tobin said.

Principals at River Ridge Middle and River Ridge High, which share a campus, sent letters home with students to inform parents about what happened.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083.

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