SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Ratify and confirm a Memorandum of Agreement (Agreement) between Bob Gualtieri, as Sheriff of Pinellas County, Florida (Sheriff); the City of St. Petersburg Police Department, the City of Clearwater Police Department, and the City of Pinellas Park Police Department, to create a Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
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SUMMARY:
Whenever a police officer uses deadly force, three independent and bifurcated investigations occur. The Office of the State Attorney Sixth Judicial Circuit conducts an independent investigation to determine if the officer’s actions were justified or involved any criminal conduct. The police department’s Office of Professional Standards conducts an administrative investigation to determine if any violations of department policy or code of conduct occurred. Additionally, a criminal investigation is conducted to determine if the incident involved any criminal violations occurred. The criminal investigation has been conducted by the agency of the involved employee when it occurred in the agency’s jurisdiction. The police department, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, St. Petersburg Police Department, and Pinellas Park Police Department seek to create the Pinellas County Deadly Force Investigative Task Force through this agreement to establish a collaborative work group that will provide criminal investigations that are independent from the agency of the involved officer.
As part of this agreement, the police department will make available, as needed, three experienced homicide investigators and supervisor staff as outlined in the agreement. The Clearwater Police Department would be the lead agency if a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Deputy used deadly force in Pinellas County, north of Ulmerton Rd. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department would be the lead agency if a Clearwater Police Officer used deadly force in the City of Clearwater. The St. Petersburg Police Department would be the lead agency if a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Deputy used deadly force in Pinellas County, south of Ulmerton Rd. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department would be the lead agency for the remaining law enforcement agencies in Pinellas County, with the exception of Largo Police Department and Tarpon Springs Police Department who utilized the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
This task force will provide a higher level of impartiality in the investigation of incidents involving police use of deadly force.
There is no direct financial obligation associated with this agreement other than the regular personnel costs and overtime costs associated with the recall of personnel participating.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
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