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Polk sheriff disciplines Wii-playing deputies

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By STEVE ANDREWS

sandrews@wfla.com

Published: November 11, 2009

TAMPA - The Polk County Sheriff's Office determined that several undercover investigators acted improperly by playing a Wii video bowling game during a drug bust at a home near Lakeland in March.

Their actions came to light because of a hidden home security camera.

The sheriff's office opened an administrative investigation Sept. 15 when News Channel 8 asked about video showing detectives and their supervisors bowling while collecting evidence against Michael Difalco.

The video made headlines nationwide.

Investigators sustained findings of improper conduct involving supervisors, sergeants and detectives. The sheriff's office ordered four hours of retraining for three sergeants and two hours of retraining for three detectives and one deputy.

The training will include officers defining ethical behavior, incorporating time management into search warrant executions, and a review of the general orders governing discipline and professionalism.

In the letters of guidance, those involved were told their behavior took the focus off the hard work and long hours put into the drug operation.

Sheriff Grady Judd had said the images overshadowed "brilliant police work" and called it an embarrassment.

According to sheriff's office records, the investigators spent nine hours searching Difalco's property for drugs, stolen property and signs of illegal drug activity.

Within 20 minutes of entering the house, some investigators found a Wii video bowling game. While some detectives hauled out evidence such as flat-screen televisions and shotguns, others threw strikes and gutter balls, and worked on picking up spares.

Detectives with the sheriff's office, and the Auburndale, Lakeland and Winter Haven police departments did not know that a wireless security camera connected to a computer in Difalco's home was recording their activity.

Court records show detectives placed the home under surveillance as far back as December. Difalco, 43, has an arrest record dating to 1995 and was in state prison from 2002 to 2005 for trafficking drugs, owning and operating a chop shop and grand theft.

In the raid March 6, court documents state, detectives removed methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, weapons and more than $30,000 in stolen property.
Difalco faces 11 charges, including trafficking methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and operating a chop shop.

A pretrial hearing is set for Nov. 20.

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