Case 2:14-cv-00270-PAM-MRM Document 324-2 Filed 02/02/17 Page 1 of 2 PageID 10683 Letter of Concern April 15th 2012 To: Capt. Adams From: Ofc. Ankenbauer I contemplated writing this letter of concern for sometime now, due to the fact that I am just four years away from retirement and concerned about repercussions from this information, but I also feel that it is my sworn duty to inform you, and my chain of command, of my concerns so they can be properly addressed and corrected. Please be advised that I invoke my whistleblower rights with this information, and do not want any repercussions brought against me for this information. The main concern is the work environment, that according to Lt. Ralph Anthony is what Chief Weschler created and wants in this department. I’m talking about the intense need to produce paperwork, tickets, and arrest in an attempt to justify this departments importance. In doing so I feel that a situation has been created that feeds an environment where common sense is no longer used in police work, and where questionable stops and illegal searches have been routinely done, all to get that citation or arrest. No, there is no official quota system but according to both Lt. Anthony and Sgt. Herman it has been instructed by you and the Chief to produce a certain amount of paperwork and a certain number of citations each night. My concern is that I have witnessed questionable stops by mostly new officers who are intimidated by this administration to conduct stats, who also has a history of over reacting and creating petty problems to show how this administration is “cleaning house”. Also creating extremely low moral and damaging officer common sense. I have also witnessed what I know as illegal searches, seizures, and detainment, by many of the same officers. This has been department wide but more than 90% of what I have witnessed has been with one shift. That is Sgt. Herman’s midnight shift. I do not fully blame the officers for this, it has been encouraged and pressured by Sgt. Herman and Lt. Anthony, who both have seemed to think and run the squad as administrators, instead of supervisors. I did not come to this letter lightly, I have tried to talk with officers and inform them that what they are doing is inappropriate and sometimes illegal. Their response has always been similar, “Hey the Chief wants stats, the LT and Sergeant want stats, I’m doing what I need to do to keep me out of trouble.” I have brought these concerns up to both Sgt. Herman and Lt. Anthony a number of times. Both have stated they know of the problems, questionable stops, and illegal searches, that I wasn’t the only officer to bring these up to their attention but they have always let it slide because of the pressure from above for stats. Lt. Anthony once stated to me: “They get the stats Chuck, Case 2:14-cv-00270-PAM-MRM Document 324-2 Filed 02/02/17 Page 2 of 2 PageID 10684 they get the stats and that keeps the Chief off our butts.” Lt. Anthony also has stated to me that “as long as they get the stats I’m willing to overlook them out of their sectors, or always doing traffic, or running radar.” This is not my only concern, I believe Sgt. Herman has been a terrible Sergeant and has demonstrated a complete lack of professionalism, along with setting an extremely bad example for other officers. Sgt. Herman treats his squad like there his property, even telling citizens in front of his subordinates that he “owns them”. Officers also do not like how Sgt. Herman interferes with their work and arrest, showing up on scene only to go into a tirade on suspects about what they did wrong. It’s gotten to the point that officers now warn there arrested subjects that the “Sergeant is here, he is going to start screaming and yelling at you, just ignore him and don’t argue back”. This is just pathetic and wrong. And it happens more times then it doesn't. Sgt. Herman has showed up on scene to a 22v, that had been solved by officers on scene, both subjects agreeing to go their separate ways, only for Sgt. Herman to interfere and start lecturing the subjects to where it triggers another argument or fight. This kind of incident is frequent and can put officers safety into harms way. I conclude this letter of concern with hopes that you can either verify and/or correct the actions mentioned above. Ask officers without fear of retaliation, and you will find the truth. According to Lt. Anthony and Sgt. Herman the Chief has created this environment. No longer are officers using common sense within the performance of their duties, it is all stat driven. In doing so questionable traffic stops and detainments have been noted, along with illegal searches and pat-downs. None of this is on the officers, in my opinion, it’s on this administration and the immediate supervisors who encourage it, and condon it. I took my concerns to Donald Day, (through an advisor), who advised me that I fulfilled my legal obligations by reporting this to my chain of command, and encouraged me not to pursue the issues further at this time. But that was months ago, and nothing has changed or stopped, and again I feel an obligation to report this. Thank you for your time. Charles Ankenbauer #50 Naples Police Department