Tarpon Springs officer quits after slashing bicycle tire

By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune
Published: July 01, 2009

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A Tarpon Springs police officer resigned this morning amid allegations he slashed the tires on a bicycle owned by a homeless person, after the homeless person addressed him using racial slurs.

Officer Jeffrey Robinson faced termination.

On Feb. 8, Robinson, who is black, was caught on camera taking the man's bicycle out of a police department sally port area and returning it, according to Tarpon Springs police documents.

He slashed the tires with a knife in retaliation for the man using racial slurs - mainly the N-word, repeatedly - while Robinson transported him to the Pinellas County Jail on Jan. 28 on a trespassing charge.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336.