Shooting death of So. Florida deputy raises questions about officer safety during prisoner transport
By Brian Haas and Paula McMahon
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Related: Fla. shooting puts spotlight on inmate tranport policy
Prison inmate fatally shoots corrections officer
BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — The Broward Sheriff’s Office on Thursday changed the way it transports prisoners after an inmate was accused of overpowering and killing a detention deputy.
A day after Deputy Paul Rein, 76, was fatally shot while driving an inmate to court, the Broward Sheriff’s Office ordered that prisoners who may have disabilities be shackled during transit, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Elliot Cohen said.
Although sheriff’s officials declined to say whether Rein had restrained his passenger, Michael Mazza, who was in a wheelchair, the agency’s previous policy gave deputies discretion in how they treated disabled prisoners. Authorities say Rein let Mazza out of the van and Mazza fatally shot and killed him during a scuffle.
Sheriff’s officials also acknowledged that Rein should not have stopped his transport van Wednesday morning as he drove Mazza to court. Rein stopped near the intersection of Powerline and Hammondville Roads in Pompano Beach and helped Mazza get out, according to witnesses.
“The reality is that Mazza is a predator with a violent past who had nothing to do but plan his escape, and he took advantage of a very compassionate, good-natured individual who thought he [Mazza] needed help,” Cohen said. “That being said, clearly the policy says you’re not to stop the van if an inmate claims something is wrong.”
“Did he stop the van? Obviously, he did.”
Mazza, 40, was put on suicide watch Thursday in a Miami-Dade County jail. He was arrested on charges of first-degree murder and escape.
His attorney, Bruce Raticoff, hasn’t met with his client but already is raising questions about what detectives have called Mazza’s confession. Raticoff said he had concerns because Mazza at first invoked his right to remain silent but later talked with detectives.
The investigation into Rein’s death continued, and detectives said Thursday that they were looking for two women who picked up Mazza after he killed Rein and ditched the transport van. It’s thought they picked up Mazza as he hitchhiked near Davie Boulevard and Interstate 95. Detectives hope the women come forward to help detectives fill in what happened after Rein was killed. They’re still investigating the possibility that Mazza had help escaping, but Cohen said Thursday “it seems less likely than it did before.”
Rein was taking Mazza from the Sheriff’s North Jail in Pompano to Fort Lauderdale to stand trial on robbery charges Wednesday morning. Authorities still don’t know why Rein stopped only about two minutes into the trip and let Mazza out. Witness statements in Mazza’s arrest report did not indicate whether he was restrained.
Mazza was captured four hours later outside a Hollywood pawn shop.
The case rattled veteran detention deputies who worked with Rein. Deputy Darryl Ferguson said the death of his friend changed his perspective.
“I’ll be a lot more careful; I’ll be working a lot more cautiously during the next few months,” Ferguson said. “It’s a lesson for all of us.”
Sheriff’s Office policy allows one deputy to transport prisoners who are not deemed “high profile” or a risk. Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties require two deputies accompany all prisoner transports.
Others have questioned whether Rein, who was the agency’s oldest, active deputy, should have been allowed to transport a dangerous criminal. His colleagues have said he was physically fit and in better shape than many younger detention deputies.
Cohen said it is too early to say what other changes may come.
“Are there places to improve the way things are done? Of course. It’s good policy to examine procedures,” he said. “There will be a time for analysis. This is a time for grieving.”
Staff Writers Tonya Alanez and Andrew Tran contributed to this report.
Copyright 2007 Orlando Sentinel