05-28-2009, 12:39 PM
http://www2.hernandotoday.com/content/2009/may/27/deputy-suspended-127-mph-backup-response/news/
A one-day suspension without pay was a deputy's punishment for driving 127 mph to back up a colleague.
Deputy William Cooper was one of four deputies who answered a request for help during an April 19 early-morning vehicle pursuit.
The pursuit began at the Lake Townsend boat ramp when a suspect nearly rammed a deputy with his car. The deputy gave chase, but dispatch lost radio communication with him for more than two minutes.
Cooper was the next closest deputy to the scene and he later told an investigator he feared the worst, either that his colleague had been shot or in an accident. Records show his top speed was 127 mph as he barreled north on U.S. 41.
It was later determined that poor reception was to blame for the radio silence. The suspect was identified, but not captured.
Records show the other responding deputies drove up to 79 mph, 91 mph and 96 mph during the pursuit. Cooper's supervisor, Sgt. William Power, determined, however, that topping 100 mph was excessive and an in-house investigation opened.
In finding that Cooper violated the safe driving policy, Major Alan Arick wrote: "Your actions were unsafe and could have had serious consequences. You would have been no help to Deputy Purchase if you had not arrived safely."
Cooper's privilege to take home his cruiser was also suspended for 30 days.
In a separate investigation, a sergeant was suspended two days without pay for insubordination.
On May 12, Sgt. Craig Baxley was asked by his immediate supervisor, Lt. Cinda Moore, to correct a report. Baxley resisted, saying he wanted approval first from someone higher up the chain of command.
Moore told him to come to her office and discuss the matter, but Baxley walked out after a minute, according to the investigation. He would not return to the office, so Moore suspended him from duty for the day and escorted him from the property.
An investigation found he violated policy that states employees are expected to obey their superiors. He was suspended for two days without pay and reassigned to the Spring Hill district.
A one-day suspension without pay was a deputy's punishment for driving 127 mph to back up a colleague.
Deputy William Cooper was one of four deputies who answered a request for help during an April 19 early-morning vehicle pursuit.
The pursuit began at the Lake Townsend boat ramp when a suspect nearly rammed a deputy with his car. The deputy gave chase, but dispatch lost radio communication with him for more than two minutes.
Cooper was the next closest deputy to the scene and he later told an investigator he feared the worst, either that his colleague had been shot or in an accident. Records show his top speed was 127 mph as he barreled north on U.S. 41.
It was later determined that poor reception was to blame for the radio silence. The suspect was identified, but not captured.
Records show the other responding deputies drove up to 79 mph, 91 mph and 96 mph during the pursuit. Cooper's supervisor, Sgt. William Power, determined, however, that topping 100 mph was excessive and an in-house investigation opened.
In finding that Cooper violated the safe driving policy, Major Alan Arick wrote: "Your actions were unsafe and could have had serious consequences. You would have been no help to Deputy Purchase if you had not arrived safely."
Cooper's privilege to take home his cruiser was also suspended for 30 days.
In a separate investigation, a sergeant was suspended two days without pay for insubordination.
On May 12, Sgt. Craig Baxley was asked by his immediate supervisor, Lt. Cinda Moore, to correct a report. Baxley resisted, saying he wanted approval first from someone higher up the chain of command.
Moore told him to come to her office and discuss the matter, but Baxley walked out after a minute, according to the investigation. He would not return to the office, so Moore suspended him from duty for the day and escorted him from the property.
An investigation found he violated policy that states employees are expected to obey their superiors. He was suspended for two days without pay and reassigned to the Spring Hill district.