By Jim Schoettler
Florida Times-Union
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A seedy tale of sexual misconduct, profane jokes and other inappropriate behavior at the Jacksonville police academy led to the firings of six recruits, including the woman who filed the initial complaint, according to an internal investigation.
The five men and one woman were fired Friday, a day after they graduated from the academy. As graduates they remain certified officers who can seek police work elsewhere.
Sheriff’s Office officials said the behavior showed a lack of integrity and they worried about how those involved would interact with the public. The president of the police union said the rookies were salvageable and should have been only reprimanded.
Administrative charges of unbecoming conduct were sustained against recruits M.F. Gresham, J.R. Adams, D.J. Johns, T.J. Brown, T.J. Reimer and Holly Ward, according to the 80-page internal report. Ward’s first name was the only one of the six listed in the report.
Three other recruits were cleared of wrongdoing.
The investigation began a month ago after Ward complained to her academy instructor that she had been harassed by several classmates and that one had groped her during a drill nearly five months earlier. The instructor told internal affairs and said he was unaware of any inappropriate behavior.
Investigators found no witnesses to the touching allegation, while a number of recruits described inappropriate physical contacts and other misconduct by Ward. Ward told investigators she partook in sex-related comments with some of her classmates, but denied the allegations that she otherwise acted inappropriately.
Investigators interviewed the class of about 40 recruits and learned that Ward and the others were involved in what Sheriff John Rutherford and other administrators deemed unbecoming conduct. Rutherford approved a recommendation by Director Rick Lewis, head of professional standards, that the six be fired.
Lewis said sex-related jokes were made in class settings, though it’s unclear how many times that occurred. He described the statements as crude and offensive. The lead recruit told investigators he heard repeated jokes about gays and having sex and “told the class to tone things down,” the report said.
Five of the six recruits admitted to making such jokes. The sixth recruit, Adams, was accused of whistling “Here Comes the Bride,” directed toward Ward and another recruit. He was also accused of paying a recruit $5 to ask Ward if she was having sex with another recruit, the report said.
Lewis said the recruits did not rise to the standards of honesty and integrity expected by the Sheriff’s Office of its officers.
“If they mess up when they’re in recruit class when they’re under the microscope, what are they going to be like out on their own?” Lewis said.
Some of the recruits were involved in discussing sexual relationships and adultery. There was also a bitter exchange in which Ward was heard suggesting to Gresham that he should hope he never needed her for backup, the report said.
Several recruits also described witnessing what they felt was continued inappropriate contact between Ward and a married recruit, though Ward denied having an affair. Recruits told investigators they were also subjected to inappropriate behavior and physical contact by Ward, who is separated from her husband, a Clay County deputy, the report said.
Police union President Nelson Cuba described the behavior as college-like and called the firings “unjust.” Cuba said the accused should have been told to cease their behavior under threat of termination if it continued. He said such behavior is common in the workplace.
“This would have been better handled by bringing in these individuals, saying cut it out and get back to concentrating on being police officers,” Cuba said.
Cuba estimated the city paid $50,000 to $60,000 to send each recruit through the seven-month academy, including salary and benefits. Lewis said he was unsure about the training costs.
Lewis said the recruits knew they were under investigation. He said they were allowed to graduate because the internal case hadn’t been finalized until Friday and there was no basis to take action until then.
The recruits were considered probationary employees who had no civil service protection. The internal findings will be submitted to the state’s Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, which can revoke their certifications. But Cuba, a commission member, said it is unlikely that will occur.
Lewis said there is no evidence anyone else in the recruit class was involved. Lewis, whose job includes overseeing the academy, said the rest of the class were top-notch recruits.
“This is going to put a blemish on this class that this whole class does not deserve,” Lewis said.
Copyright 2009 The Florida Times-Union