| VOLUSIA EXPOSED.COM |
|
|
Volusia Sheriff Rehires Deputy With Significant Disciplinary History Just Like In The Deputy S. LeClerc Rehire The VCSO Refuses To Provide The Public With A Rationale For The Rehire |
February 10, 2016 |
"When you have police officers who abuse citizens, you erode public confidence in law enforcement. That makes the job of good police officers unsafe". - Mary Frances Berry
|
It has recently been bought to our attention - that last September (2015) - the Volusia County Sheriff Department rehired former Deputy Michael Sawicki. Deputy Sawicki had resigned from the VCSO in August 2012 - while he was being investigated for suspected violations of Florida's police officer's moral character standards. Deputy Sawicki's scrapes with the law were well publicized in several other local media outlets. DBNJ article - July 2012 Orlando Sentinel article - July 2012 |
VCSO Deputy Michael Sawicki 2012 Seminole County Jail Booking Photo |
|
VolusiaExposed posted at least two articles detailing Deputy Sawicki's 2012 domestic violence arrest AND other allegations of misconduct (DUI, sex on duty) that were "investigated" by the Volusia County Sheriff Department.
March 2013 VolusiaExposed article Deputy M. Sawicki was added to our list of Brady Cops (2012). The rehiring of Deputy Sawicki is not the first time in recent history that the VCSO has rehired a deputy with significant discipinary history. In October 2013, Sheriff Johnson had terminated Deputy LeClerc due to her highly publicized arrest for driving her patrol car while under the influence (DUI). Last March (2015) - Sheriff Johnson rehired Deputy Stephanie LeClerc - also refusing to provide the public (VolusiaExposed) with a rationale for her hire (see linked article for details). While many of our (VolusiaExposed) critics state that VolusiaExposed is an anti-law enforcement site - evidence will quickly dispel that allegation. We have come to the defense of several law enforcement officers. Below are just a few examples. VolusiaExposed attended the May 2012 County Personnel Board for Volusia County Deputy Scott Flesch. In 2012, as now (2016) - VolusiaExposed suspects that Deputy Flesch was thrown under the bus with false / manipulated testimony. Last year (2015), a local circuit judge ruled that Deputy Flesch's Personnel Board was held out of compliance with County Merit Rules. VolusiaExposed.Com also attended and video recorded the April 2012 Personnel Board of Beach Patrol Captain Rich Gardner. As in the Flesch matter - we suspected that much of the testimony given in the Gardner matter was fabricated. Further - recently, the Florida Bar found probable cause, in support of misconduct, against the assistant county attorney that prosecuted the administrative case against Capt. Gardner. Lastly, last May (2015) - VolusiaExposed spoke in the defense of South Daytona Officer John Pickett. After a criminal trial, and a labor arbitrator review - Officer Pickett was eventually reinstated as a South Daytona police officer. While we are somewhat critical of the rehiring of Deputies Sawicki and LeClerc - our concerns are not so much attached to the deputies' themselves - but rather to the lack of explanation the administration of the VCSO is willing to provide the public regarding their rehire. Last month (January 2016) - Deputies Michael Sawicki and Andrew Jenkins were recognized by the City of Deltona for their life saving actions during a December 15, 2015 car accident. Congratulations deputies. Maybe Deputy Sawicki is worthy of yet another chance? Time will tell. We (VolusiaExposed) just wish that the VCSO administration had similar faith in the public's right to know, as they appear to have in their misbehaving deputies. When transparency in any government office is eroded - suspicions will run amuck. |
