City Takes Disciplinary Action in TPD Case; Changes Implemented
September 26, 2008
The City of Tallahassee today released its 199-page Internal Affairs Report into the Hoffman confidential informant case and provided details on the disciplinary action that is being taken within the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD). In addition, the city released a report from the Attorney General's (AG) Office, which had been requested by City Manager Anita Favors Thompson and Police Chief Dennis Jones. The AG's report reviewed the policies of the Tallahassee Police Department in regard to this case and TPD's adherence to the policies.
Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Dekker, the trial judge assigned to the case against Andrea Green and Deneilo Bradshaw in the murder of Rachel Hoffman, signed an order this morning that allowed the city to release the reports, with certain information redacted that could impact the criminal case.
"This city government has a commitment to operating in a manner that is forthright, honest and accountable," said City Manager Anita Favors Thompson. "When we make mistakes, we not only believe we should be accountable for those mistakes, but we are also charged with putting into place whatever it takes to prevent such mistakes from happening in the future."
"I want to express my personal and heartfelt sympathy to the Hoffman family and friends who have lost their loved one," said Thompson. "This incident has not been taken lightly in Tallahassee, not in our community, not in our government and not by our TPD law enforcement personnel who share the grief of this tragedy."
The Internal Affairs Report includes interviews with 28 individuals and represents months of investigative work. Both the TPD Internal Affairs Report and the AG's report found that TPD overall had well-established policies, however the policies were not always adhered to at the required level. Violations of policy were found in areas including: confidential information documentation and control, supervision, drug buy/bust operations, officer conduct and use of flash funds.
As a result of the both the Internal Affairs Report and the AG's report, TPD has made the following changes:
- Revisions to 11 policies.
- The Vice Unit has been moved under the management control of the Criminal Investigation Division, and a new unit commander is in charge of the new Special Investigation Unit.
- A higher level of supervision, as well as regular reviews of policy compliance and operations is being implemented.
- Disciplinary action has been taken by Police Chief Dennis Jones as follows:
- Deputy Chief John Proctor, reprimand
- Captain Chris Connell, two-week suspension without pay
- Lieutenant Taltha White, two-week suspension without pay
- Sergeant David Odom, two-week suspension without pay
- Sergeant Rod Looney, two-week suspension without pay
- Investigator Ryan Pender, employment terminated
- The City Manager has also taken disciplinary action by issuing a reprimand to the police chief to require a more stringent level of supervision from the top down.
- Chief Jones is making reassignments of Connell, White and Odom within the department.
"We have taken the necessary time to conduct a thorough and honest review and asked others to examine our operations," said Chief Jones. "I promised Ms. Hoffman's father that when our full report was completed he would be among the first to receive our findings. I've contacted the family and provided them with the report, through their attorney."
"While we cannot change the events of May 7, we can make the type of changes within the department to help ensure our future actions are consistent with policy," Jones added.
As part of the city's commitment to provide a detailed account to the community, the Special Investigative Report by TPD (which initiates the internal affairs review), the Internal Affairs Report and both Phase I and Phase II of the AG's report are available to the public via the city's website at Talgov.com.
All files are in PDF format, and some files may be large
- Special Investigative Report
- Internal Affairs Cover Letter
- Internal Affairs Report
- AG's Phase 1 Report
- AG's Phase 2 Report
The City Manager and Police Chief released the details from the report at a noon news conference today. The video of that news conference will be played in its entirety on WCOT, Comcast Channel 13, at 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. today.
Contact
M. Michelle Bono, asst. to the city manager, 891-8200
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