Sarasota police chief suspended, officer fired in wake of jail scandal

Sarasota has fired one of its police officers and suspended its police chief and another officer following a controversial arrest on June 26.

The disciplinary actions were taken based on an investigation conducted by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. The results of that investigation were released today.

On June 26, Juan Perez was arrested on a charge of disorderly intoxication. His arrest was caught on video by two surveillance cameras at the Sarasota County Jail.

The video shows Perez wiggling his way out of Officer Christopher Childers' cruiser. Perez, who was handcuffed behind his back, appeared to hit the pavement with his face. The officer then kicked Perez twice as he attempted to stand up. Moments later, the officer puts his foot on Perez's back to detain Perez until he was escorted into the facility.

Officer Demetri Konstantopoulos pulled in behind Childers and witnessed the ordeal but, according to the report, never reported seeing it.

The police department then asked the city's risk management office to arrange a settlement so Perez wouldn't sue the city. Perez agreed to a $400 settlement, but when he didn't receive his check in the mail, he contacted the department. According to the report, Sgt. Kenneth Castro went to a post office and retrieved the check, then personally delivered it to Perez and even gave him a ride to a Wachovia Bank to cash it.

The city suspended Chief Peter Abbott for two weeks for his mishandling of the situation.

Childers was fired, effective immediately, City Manager Robert Bartolotta said. Police also suspended Konstantopoulos without pay for a day. Disciplinary letters were placed in the files of Castro and Larry Hobbs, who is with the risk management office.

The officers who were punished, including the chief, have seven days to appeal the decision on their individual disciplines.

Bartolotta called the findings disappointing.

"I think, obviously, we want to put this behind us," Bartolotta said. "Any time that we have people engaged in actions not consistent with our policies, then we need to deal with those."

Bartolotta said the actions of a few in the department should not affect how the public views the agency. And he's going forward with recommendations from Hillsborough investigators to ensure a similar incident doesn't happen.

As a result of the investigation:

• The Sarasota Police Department will implement commission-approved recommendations of the Police Advisory Panel.

• A review of the Internal Affairs Office will be conducted, and an analysis will be made as to the office commander having joint reporting responsibility to the police chief and city manager.

• The complaint handling process of the police department will be reviewed.

• The department will review how to ensure a quicker resolution of complaints.

• The department will review the feasibility of installing video/audio recording equipment in all patrol vehicles.

• Recruitment strategies will be reviewed with an eye on more diversity in the department.

• A recommendation will be made within the next six months to enhance the department's community-oriented policing activities in the Newtown area.

• Additional training resources will be recommended in order to reemphasize standards dealing with ethics and professional conduct.