A Tampa police officer received a written reprimand for sticking up for a friend whose car had been towed.
The problem is that Officer J.J. Pohl did it while on duty and in uniform, the Tampa Police Department said today.
On April 27, Pohl received a call from a friend whose pickup truck had been towed from a condominium complex in Brandon.
Pohl, who was on duty in South Tampa and in uniform, drove to Professional Towing, 3304 E. 7th Ave., according to the police department's internal affairs report.
He didn't get permission from his sergeant to go to the tow company in Ybor City.
At the business, Pohl spoke to the business owner by phone. He told him that his friend's pickup truck had been inappropriately towed, the report states.
Employees said that Pohl stated that he would write tickets when he saw them driving the company vehicles.
Pohl disputed that statement. He told investigators that he said, "I hope I don't see your trucks move."
Pohl left the business, but left his police radio at the scene.
Investigators cited him for violating regulations on use of authority, attentiveness to duty, courtesy to the public and use of department equipment.
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