Another FDLE executive treating employees like garbage

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Another FDLE exec suspended. Only reason is because he got out of control and they had to save face. Otherwise, we know Swearingen is very supportive of guys like this as long as they stay focused on "targets'.

Veteran FDLE special agent Michael Bartus suspended after 'offensive comments'

FORT PIERCE — A veteran Florida Department of Law Enforcement special agent received a 10-day unpaid suspension after an internal investigation determined he made “inappropriate, derogatory or offensive comments” in a management position, according to records obtained this week.

Special Agent Supervisor Michael R. Bartus also was found to have had a “negative encounter” with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission while off-duty.

The investigation began after a special agent in August 2017 reported Bartus made “racially motivated comments.”

That agent said he was assigned to the Fort Pierce field office with Bartus as his supervisor.

More: PSL police officer fired after internal affairs case

Several agents were interviewed during the investigation of Bartus, who was hired in June 2006.

Bartus was accused of a variety of things, including: consistently demeaning other special agents; referring to African American Fort Pierce residents as “'Democrats' with the term referring to low-income citizens who were on welfare or living in crime areas of the community”; using a derogatory term in talking about white women in apparent relationships with African Americans; instructing an agent to alter and/or add wording in documents; bad mouthing other law-enforcement agencies; and having an unprofessional encounter with the FWC while off-duty.


An FWC officer reported that on July Fourth a few years ago, Bartus was operating a boat with blue lights and no navigation lights. The officer reported Bartus got agitated and objected to the stop, saying he didn’t think he should be inspected because he was a law-enforcement officer.

More: Report: Fired Indian River sheriff's deputy took naked photos on duty

Bartus largely denied, objected to or offered explanations for the accusations.

Still, the FDLE probe determined Bartus “repeatedly made inappropriate, derogatory or offensive comments in the presence of one or more members of FDLE.”

“These comments, in part, involved repeated open criticism of subordinate members and derogatory comments about people, or groups of people, based on their social or economic status,” records said.

Bartus also was alleged to have told others he hid assets from his ex-wife during a divorce and “reported false information in official divorce documents.”

That was investigated, and the case was closed.

Bartus was given the 10-day suspension in March.

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Oh yeah. Next step is sending him to the FBI National Academy and a promotion to ASAC. Better do it before January, however.

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Well 10 days suspension for rude comments and JROC Agent commits perjury, makes up evidence and lies to a judge and State Attorney (Sworn documentation) but no one is worried about that and there is no punishment....FDLE is truly unreal..

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Yet Vecchio stays protected

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This is an interesting situation at FDLE.

So who's actually worse, the "objectionable entry level employee /non executive" that really has little impact on effecting people around them or an overly-aggressive predatory SAS, ASAC, or SAC that targets, plots against, and/or runs out that person who has dedicated their life to the service of Florida?

And how does this executive have the time with so many pressing issues and priorities in our state? I've heard some say "John (for example)" will "handle someone", which really means he is wiling to get dirty, go low, and "lie, cheat, setup" to achieve the objective that others will not do because they have integrity.

I think if you look at the big picture, the conniving executive is truly the biggest cancer the Agency has.

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The formula is simple for guys like this- Super, super nice to most, but focused attack on one or very few people. Turn everyone against that person if possible. Then when that person says anything, everyone else just thinks it's that person that's being attacked.

Where these types fail is they thrive off of treating people like shit, and it gets out of hand.. and they start going after more and more people.. and THEN they get caught up and while the Executive levels usually let them ride against one or two, they are forced to step in at that point so they don't look bad. But behind closed doors, the current administration appears to support any and all focused attacks against certain individuals... right or wrong. From past cases, they don't even care about facts or truth. Sad but true.

Keep your head up, Swearingen and his under-qualified, buddy-appointed Posse will be gone with a new Governor, so to anyone riding out a shit storm, hunker down and wait until someone with real qualifications takes over the Agency.

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We at TROC are praying non-stop that MP and his window licking ASAC are shown the door!

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Shane always enters RS's office backwards in a slow crab walk.

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Shane always enters RS's office backwards in a slow crab walk.

Only if there's donuts in there

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DFLE is going through a slow and painful Affirmative Action caused organizational death.
A once proud and professional organization has been reduced to garbage in a short 20 years.