Date: July 1, 2016 From: Borthland Murray To: Subject: Fort Pierce City Commission Concerns within Fort Pierce Police Department Commissioners, City Manager, Madam Mayor, I had all intention to standing before you as a concerned citizen at the next city commission meeting but due to the numerous amount concerns and the time constraint of a three minute rule, I have instead place my concerns in this email hoping that as a governing body you will be aware of the existing internal conditions of the Fort Pierce Police Department. Since July 2015, I had the privilege of serving the citizens of Fort Pierce as a Special Investigator to the Office of the Chief of Police. Prior to this assignment I served the citizens of Tampa as a Police Officer with the Tampa Police Department in Tampa, Florida for twenty five years as law enforcement officer where I gained experience in the following areas: Street Parole, Vice Operations, Undercover Narcotics Operation, Internal Affairs Investigations, and Robbery. I had supervised Narcotics Squads, Street Patrol Squads, and the Rapid Offender Control Squad in which I excelled receiving numerous awards and recognitions. In addition, I received the Narcotic Detective of the year and the department’s highest award the Medal of Valor. On July 13, 2016, I joined the Fort Pierce Police Department assigned as a Special Investigator to the Office of the Chief of Police. I was assigned the tasks of auditing the department assets, assisted in the improvement of internal affairs, and investigated complaints that originated from City Hall. During the past year I have observed the systematic deterioration of the officer’s moral, disturbing trend of the misuse of executive power by the Chief of Police, the failure to investigate police violations and negligent retention. Selective Enforcement Concerns 1. While off duty Lieutenant Bender hurt himself remodeling his daughter’s bedroom. Lieutenant Bender reported to duty holding his back and was asked how he hurt himself, he replied the aforementioned cause. Several days after the incident while in the Human Resource office, I was asked by the City of Fort Pierce Risk Manager to inform the Chief of Police that Human Resource office needed supporting documentation showing that Lieutenant Bender hurt his back on duty while working at his desk. I informed Risk Management to reject the claim because Bender did not hurt himself at work. I informed the Chief of Police in the present of Deputy Chief Armandro that Lieutenant Bender filed a false Workman’s Comp claim. To my disbelief Chief Hobley-Burney failed to investigate the incident. 2. Jessie Allen a citizen of Fort Pierce was stop for a minor traffic infraction by a street patrol officer. Officer Mathura a secondary officer came on scene, walked past a probationary officer and stated, “Watch me search his shit!” Allen refused permission for a consensual search of his vehicle but Officer Mathura violated his Fourth Amendment Rights and searched the vehicle. Officer Mathura was investigated for civil rights violation. The complaint was sustained but while under investigation for civil rights violation Officer Mathura was caught on tape removing his gun belt in an effort to fight a citizen because that citizen questioned Mathura’s authority. While being investigated for that violation, Mathura visited a Gentleman’s Club in Saint Lucie County where he got into an altercation with security and flashed his badge during the incident. Because of the Chief of Police inexperience of the 180 day rule governing formal investigations of Law Enforcement Officers mandated by Florida State Statute, Officer Mathura was allowed to return to duty and is still patrolling the streets of Fort Pierce. The Chief of Police has exposed the citizens of Fort Pierce to an unpredictable officer who has intentionally violated the rights of a citizen. The alarming issue in this incident is Deputy Chief Armandro’s justification was to minimize the violation of civil rights as he stated, “the citizen didn’t go to jail no harm, no fowl.” These types of incidents are mandated by Florida Department Law Enforcement (FDLE) that copies of such investigations are to be sent to FDLE using Form 78 for review. The Chief of Police has declined to send the reports to FDLE despite repeated request by Internal Affairs. Misuse of Position Concerns 1. Several weeks ago a citizen stood before the city commission and stated the following facts. We all have felons in our family. Brothers, Sisters, Daughters, and Sons. He never mentioned Chief Hobley-Burney’s name or her son’s name but she took an offense to his statement. Upon the conclusion of the commission meeting, the Chief of Police publicly threatened the citizen. Furthermore, the Chief of Police misused her position of power and took two of her executive staff members to the citizen’s place of business to intimidate the citizen. 2. In the most recent police involved shooting, the same citizen and Commissioner Session publicly expressed their dissatisfaction involving the shooting. I was directed by the Chief of Police to gather any and all information on the citizen and Commissioner Session to seek criminal charges. This directive was further galvanized by Deputy Chief Armandro when he directed and stated to me to “make sure it’s something tangible.” Because this citizen and Commissioner Session expressed their concerns, the Chief of Police used the power of her office in an act of retribution. 3. City Manager Mimms while investigating the incident involving the Chief of Police’s threats towards the citizen, the Chief of Police was recalled stating that if the City Manager comes after her, she was holding a corruption charge to fire back at him. An allegation that the Chief of Police has been holding onto for several months as leverage against the City Manager. Accreditation Concerns 1. The Fort Pierce Police Department is in danger of losing their accreditation. Since taking office in June 2015, the Chief of Police has failed to review and certify the department’s policies which are the nucleus of the certification. Bias Base Profiling, Blood Borne Pathogen, Rachael’s Law to name a few, is mandated by Florida State Statue and Florida Accreditation to be reviewed annually. Most of the policies are time sensitive and once the date has past the department is in violation. Since August of 2015, the Accreditation Manager and I have had on numerous occasions desperately pleaded with the Chief of Police verbally and electronically the importance of reviewing and certifying the policies. It was not until I brought this matter to the City Manager’s attention that she hastily started reviewing the policies. The Chief of Police pushed back from reviewing the policies has caused the lack of community education on Bias Base Profiling and the failure of departmental training in several key areas. 2. The dismantling of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team without a viable replacement or tangible option has left the department defenseless in a very sensitive area despite the current increase in terrorist incidents. In conclusion, I met with Human Resource Office and verbally expressed my concerns outlined in this email. The Chief of Police was allowed to explain some of these concerns by attacking my character with a frivolous harassment complaint labeling me as a disgruntle employee. There have been an alarming number of employees that have left since the appointment of Chief Hobley-Burney. They were all labeled as disgruntled or money hungry employees which is inaccurate. I am providing this governing body with factual concerns, which can be corroborated by third party interviews and departmental records. Respectfully submitted Borthland Murray