Sanford officer accused of bribery

[NewsHound]

Sanford officer accused of bribery

From CFNews13.com

SANFORD --

A Sanford police officer is under arrest, charged with taking a bribe and accepting unlawful compensation.

Police Chief Bill Lee calls it a sad day for the department trying to recover from other events that tarnished their image before he took over.

However, there's still a chance that Officer Joseph Wiggins could return to duty while he awaits trial.

Sanford officers write thousands of traffic tickets each year, and some drivers get off with a warning.

But investigators with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Wiggins, 38, only let one driver go in exchange for cash.

“This type of action is not something that you have to tell a police officer that it's not appropriate,” Lee said.

After being relieved of his duty during the investigation by Sanford police, FDLE issued a warrant for Wiggins’ arrest. He turned himself in at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility Wednesday morning.

Unfortunately it's not the first time a Sanford police officer or the department has had their actions called into question.

The city's former chief pushed up his retirement after complaints late last year that another Sanford cop's son wasn't arrested for sucker punching a homeless man.

Some community members are still worried about police corruption.

“I know he's not the only one,” said Bob Richards, a Sanford resident. “They've got their own special life that they live, and you are either on their side or you are not.”

“He's under oath and we are all human we all have to pay our consequences and live up to our actions,” said resident Reggie Evans.

The chief hasn't made up his mind yet what to do about Wiggins’ job, but says the most important thing is public trust.

“I hope the message the community gets is if there is an instance where they believe an officer has done something wrong they have confidence in police to report it,” Lee said.

Wiggins served as the police volunteer coordinator before being promoted to a full time officer in 2008.

He was released from jail after posting $3,000 bond.

The chief expects to make a decision on his employment in the next week or two.

[reality]

It use to be like this all the time. Id rather give a cop 50 bucks cash rather than giving it to the morons that claim to run the show.