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Sheriff Concludes Jail Criminal Investigation Prompted By Commissioner’s Comments
June 11, 2013
Following a criminal investigation, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday afternoon that there was no merit to comments made to local media by Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino.
During an interview with WEAR 3, Valentino referenced “correctional officers playing video games on laptop computers and ignoring prisoners” and said “let’s address these issues before you come to me asking for money”, according to a letter from Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan. And the following day, he told two radio stations, including NewsRadio 1620, that the sheriff was holding a gun to the head of the county commission and that the commission will look for further efficiencies in the jail operations before agreeing to funding, according to the sheriff’s letter.
Morgan said he opened a criminal investigation based upon Valentino’s “statements as a material witness” regarding correctional officers playing video games on laptops — a third degree felony offense because the laptops would be considered contraband.
The following statement was released Tuesday by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office:
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce the conclusion of the criminal investigation against our officers based upon allegations raised by Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino. As the public may recall, Commissioner Valentino alleged through the media in two separate recorded interviews that Escambia County detention deputies were using laptops and being inattentive to inmates. Laptops are not issued to line officers in the Escambia County Jail. Unauthorized laptops are considered contraband and therefore a felony under Florida statute.
Commissioner Valentino had asserted in the second recorded interview that this information was not “off the cuff” but that it was given to him directly by law enforcement officer sources.
Even though Sheriff Morgan requested the Commissioner’s assistance, Commissioner Valentino refused to provide information to assist in this felony investigation. With the assistance of the State Attorney’s Office, Commissioner Valentino was subpoenaed to provide information to identify his sources so the investigation could continue. Commissioner Valentino, upon being interviewed by the State Attorney’s Office, admitted he had one and only one source. This source is a convicted felon and former inmate who had last been inside the jail in 2009. In addition to the felony conviction, this source had also been convicted of 92 misdemeanors. When asked specifically to name the law enforcement source he had alleged to be in contact with, he stated to the State Attorney’s Office that he had misspoken and that there was no law enforcement source.
Because this information is four years old and from an unreliable source, it would be impossible to follow up and identify if there were any deputies with unauthorized laptops. We are of the opinion that the event never occurred and have concluded that any further investigation is unwarranted. We hope that the serious issues that the Department of Justice has identified will now return to the front and center of the county’s attention.
Comments
36 Responses to “Sheriff Concludes Jail Criminal Investigation Prompted By Commissioner’s Comments”
Mr. Valentino’s days are numbered! I’m coming after him in November 2014!
Additionally, we are very aware that there is no love lost between a large number of good ole boys at ECSO and Sheriff Morgan. In both his family and public life, Sheriff Morgan has proven himself honest, professional, trustworthy, and ethical. When a man like that comes to town, the good ole boys usually aren’t very pleased. A new broom may sweep clean, but a professional new broom also tends to unsettle things, and for good reason.
Now, if only the good ole boys would grow up into good ethical men . . .
Now that ECSO has expended time, manpower and funds on this issue, surely Mr Valentino will be forthcoming with a check to reimburse the county. After all, as an outspoken commissioner against the recent use of county funding to have an outside firm create a quarter-million-dollar tourism ad for Pensacola, I’ “sure” his concerns for spending taxpayer dollars wisely will somehow trickle over to the bruhaha his “misspeaking” caused. Ahem.
To say I “”misspoke”" simply means I lied and got busted doing it…It must really suck for Gene to not have his word taken and believed at face value…
A new witness?
-
Time for another subpoena, or maybe just check with friends at NSA.
Mr. Valentino is right. I work @ the jail for 5 years. Everything he said was true. I’m not a inmate. And all off this was going on in Oct. Of last year for sure.
Lets call for an inquiry into an ethics violation to Talahassee (ethics board) on Gene Valentino’s “misspoken” words and his attempt to mislead the citizens of Escambia County. I am sure that they will find more than just this as a violation. I did not know elected officials associated with convicted felons to the point that they trusted their word. Makes you wonder what else Gene was doing besides talking with a convicted felon? Too bad the SAO does not have the stones to go after politicians that violate ethical issues in this county. Lets get rid of the garbage in the commission office one person at a time starting with Gene. I always heard that there was scam in the middle of this county (Ec “Scam” Bia) but Gene just proved it when he lied on camera.
@ billw “misspeak” in this context most likely means:
A….you caught me
B…my bad
C…oops
D…I never thought you’d REALLY check up on my statement
E…hey, it’s just more of my b.s., Jack
F…all of the above
Misspoke?? Valentino needs to man up and just admit he lied… The public should call for his resignation because an admitted liar has lost all credibility.
REGARDING:
“Lets support the ones who do keep us safe. ”
Can’t they support the ones who keep us safe while trying to correct misdeeds (if any exist) within the organization ?
David for even better
True there are problems with the sheriffs office. But name me one organization that large that doesn’t. To those who want to bash law enforcement, I don’t see you getting a gun pointed at you, I don’t see you trying to apprehend drug cartel, I don’t see you going to work hoping you come back home alive after every shift. Lets support the ones who do keep us safe.
To those law enforcement bashers: The next time someone has kidnapped a loved one, or some one has robbed your home of everything, we will see who you call for help.
The sherriff should sit at Hood Drive and Hwy 29 and watch all his officers run the red light at shift change. Surprised they haven’t killed someone yet.
@Surprised X 3, I would not suggest biting the hand that feeds, I would recommend it’s removal.
Could anyone out there please explain what it means to misspeak ? I hear it more and these days. Could you possibly use that in court before a judge or is it reserved for politicians to use?
Apparently when the county commissioners have nothing to do they bash each other or the sheriff. Not impressed. Sheriff Morgan is one of the best Sheriffs we have had and has brought some good changes to this area. Since he isn’t one of the good ol’ boys people like to bash him.
A waste of effort and a lot of look at me, look at me.
For everyone talking along the lines of needing an independent investigation or shocked they found no misconduct while investigating themselves, don’t forget this entire banter back and forth started from the Department of Justice doing a multi-year evaluation/study on the jail. If gross misconduct had been presented they would of stated so. This entire banter back and forth between Morgan and the commissioners started from DoJ stating the main problem was not having the money from the county to hire enough correctional workers.
General Half-Track strikes again. This time Morgan finds a way to back out of his felony investigation, which never had a chance to begin with. In the end, Morgan can only come up with a “pleased to announce” draw with the county commissioner. Here’s some advice for the elected shurff – don’t bite the hand that feeds you because you might find yourself looking for funds somewhere else. Remember, the governer ain’t in your corner after you burned that bridge with him with your letter that told him how to run the state’s finances!
Sounds like the fox investagating the hen house to me…. It needs an indipendant investagation !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To Sharon A Cowles…. Where in the world do you live where you see beat up inmates get out everyday?
I still say that the Mr. Valentino needs to spend a day in the jail and see first hand what those officers have to deal with. Oh but it might ruin a trip to another country. The lowest paid officers in the state and still rolling along. God bless them and what they have to endure on a daily basis. Shame on you Gene! Thank god these officers love their jobs or old Gene would have to put on a uniform and manage 60 to 80 inmates by himself. Talking about being backed into a corner!
David Huie Green, You hit the nail on the head with your comment…………….☺☺
Good Ole boy at its Best. My wife almost died from High Blood Pressure , Has memory lost now because They withheld her Blood Pressure medicine for a MONTH. Did ANYONE really think they was going to FIND anything? They can’t find Shooters , drug Lords, thieves,
NOT ALL C.O.’s are bad , corrupt, or following the leader. But under the GOOD Old Boy system in ESCO LEADERSHIP is a serious Issue..
NOTE:
Please remember, that if you are a convicted felon, in the future people will distrust you, even if you should tell the truth (which I doubt this was). Don’t put yourself behind the 8-ball, there may come a time when you need to be believed.
David for facing facts
really, I see inmates get out everyday, beat up! morgan to me, is like CHARLIE MORRIS,OKALOOSA County, a LIAR!!!!
It’s good to see the sheriff call his bluff and make him eat his words. I find it hard to believe that a county commissioner would quote an ex-jail inmate in making his allegations.
Seems to me that Gene has some antimosity towards the sherriff. Sherriff Morgan has done a great job cleaning up that department with all the budget
Crunches. He needs to be comended by the commision and not be a target for someone.
Taking the word of a convicted felon and habitual offender, yea lets waste some more of the sheriffs office time.. and this valentino guy stating that he had misspoken…politicians are the ones that need to be scrutinized…this one needs to be in the unemployment line…
Seriously Gene, no one plays games on a laptop at work anymore. We use our cell phones for that now-a-days; and I am sure Sheriff Morgan’s officers, both correction and patrol alike are guilty of these charges.
Instead of mincing words with a county commissioner, how about fixing the crime, gang and drug problems Sheriff! That is why we voted you in twice isn’t it?
Even Barrack has been able to fix a couple things in two terms, but I have seen very little improvement in your department’s performance thus far.
Gotta enjoy a good public punking.
Way to go, Sheriff Morgan!
He lied. When caught and confronted in that lie, he lied again and stated “I misspoke”.
Sounds like its time to vote another county commissioner out.
*County infrastructure*
Our County infrastructure is falling a part, no real effort to draw higher paying employers to the area, drive-by shootings, drugs, assaults all rampant….. and THIS is what they spend their time on… Get both of these clowns out of office…
Hopefully Mr. Valentino will choose his words more carefully from now on. Sheriff Morgan has already proven he’s not a man to banter back and forth or play political games.
Gene Valentino….the Harry Reid of Escambia County. Make stuff up and then say “I misspoke”.