Four Pinellas Sheriff’s Deputies Suspended After Neglecting Duties During Hurricane Irma

December 1st, 2017

Awake Goy

Four Pinellas County sheriff’s deputies were suspended after internal investigations found they neglected their duties during Hurricane Irma.

Deputies Jason Beetz, Kristen Spielmeyer and Brian Williams received 40 hours without pay with part of the punishments delayed if they stay out of trouble for the next year, according to the investigations. Beetz and Williams were also demoted to patrol deputies from their jobs as narcotics detectives, said Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. Cpl. Hal White was handed down 16 hours.

Gualtieri said they all accepted responsibility and apologized, but their mistakes still warranted punishment.

“First responders make a decision to enter a profession that really is an ultimate inconvenience,” he said. “When everyone else was stepping up, they stepped out.”

The employees could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Spielmeyer has worked for the agency since 1992, White and Williams since 2005, and Beetz since 2013.

The Sheriff’s Office reminds employees to have a plan for themselves and their families every year at the start of hurricane season, Gualtieri said. As Irma barreled toward Florida, supervisors communicated with their employees to make sure their responsibilities during the storm were clear.

Beetz, 32, was assigned to patrol evacuation areas then shelter at the Sheriff’s Administration Building, according to the investigation. He told his supervisors that, while he was aware of the consequences, he wouldn’t report for duty. Spielmeyer, 45, evacuated instead of reporting for duty at the jail. Williams, 35, showed up at the beginning of his shift to patrol evacuation areas but went home an hour later.

The investigative summaries don’t state why, but Gualtieri said they all had family members at home and didn’t make necessary arrangements ahead of time.

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