Hernando deputy demoted for 'poor judgment'

A sheriff's deputy has been demoted from his detective role but will be put back on patrol duty in light of friends and family refusing to cooperate with an internal affairs investigation concerning possible misconduct.

In a letter following his review of the internal investigation, Hernando County Sheriff Richard Nugent wrote that he is disappointed by the conduct of Deputy Jeffrey Swartz, who was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery in October stemming from a domestic dispute with his wife.

Swartz was arrested about 5:30 a.m. Oct. 3, according to a sheriff's report, after allegedly pushing his wife down on their bedroom floor, grabbing her by the neck and later grabbing her by the arms so she couldn't break loose.

Prosecutors later dropped charges against Swartz, who claimed he was restraining her for her own protection after she became intoxicated and "lost control."

However, Nugent wrote that Swartz could have handled the entire affair differently.

"It is my opinion that the exercise of poor judgment on your part contributed directly to the incident at your home," Nugent wrote. "Your statement that the event has resulted in embarrassment for both your family and this agency is correct."

Nugent said during a phone interview that Swartz's claims that his wife has a drinking problem should have been a warning sign that he shouldn't have started drinking with her. According to sheriff reports, the couple was drinking with friends hours past midnight while their three children were asleep.

"You can't claim that your wife has an alcohol problem and then establish that you fed her booze," Nugent said.

He added that Swartz was deflecting questions from investigators at his home and should have handled their inquiries more professionally, especially as a detective for the department.

However, he said because Swartz's wife and friends wouldn't cooperate with an internal affairs investigator, she was forced to conclude that the possible conduct unbecoming violation was "unfounded." In his inner office letter, Nugent said he was forced to agree.

However, he said there are still consequences to Swartz's actions that night, with a demotion from investigator to patrolman again with the same pay.

"He's now back to riding in a green and white patrol car," Nugent said. "That's all because of his actions and no one else's."