County To Suspend 'Cheating' Sheriff's Deputies

[sunny]

Do you think this will really work?

County To Suspend 'Cheating' Sheriff's Deputies

POSTED: 7:16 am EST February 8, 2006
UPDATED: 7:38 am EST February 8, 2006

Sheriff's deputies who get caught cheating on their spouses or sleeping with another person's spouse in Pinellas County, Fla., will be suspended from work for the behavior, according to a Local 6 News report.

Pinellas County sheriff's Chief Deputy Dennis Fowler said he has seen so many cases of deputy-involved cases of adultery leading to 911 calls that he has decided to suspend deputies over the action.

Fowler said the suspension can be given to any deputy, regardless of whether they are married or single.

"It goes beyond just your individual relationship with someone else. It affects other people in the workplace, people's ability to do their job, and I think that is relevant," Fowler said.

Authorities said it only makes sense for law enforcement managers to send a message to their workers, that adulterous behavior is trouble.

If a complaint is filed, and the offender is caught, the deputy could get up to a three-day suspension from work.

There have not been any offenders punished under the adultery policy, according to the report.

http://www.local6.com/news/6833079/detail.html

[gtalum]

While cheaters are disgusting, it seems odd to suspend someone for legal behavior off the clock.

[senorpepr]

They do it in the military. Actually, adultery is illegal in the military.

[sunny]

They do it in the military. Actually, adultery is illegal in the military.

This is true. Lyndi England......

[gtalum]

They do it in the military. Actually, adultery is illegal in the military.

Yes, and as you noted it's illegal according to the UCMJ. But it's not illegal for civilians. Police, unlike military, are not held to a different set of laws.

[O Town]

Hmmm, although I understand why they did this, I don't think it will really work. They obviously have control issues to begin with if they are cheating, and if the suspension is only 3 days, I am sure most will continue to cheat. And IMO I think it is getting a little too much into their personal lifes.

[DoctorHurricane2003]

leading to 911 calls???

[O Town]

leading to 911 calls???

Yea what up with that? I don't get that one either. 911? Unless it is for an ambulance after they wooped up on them.

[Derek Ortt]

thats not true that adultery is legal for civilians. Many jurisdictions still have adultery as a misdemeanor, which if it is the case in Florida (I know that co-habitation is a crime in Florida), then they should be tried as they are entrusted to protect and serve, not break the law

[gtalum]

Derek, as the Texas sodomy case proves, those laws are unenforceable and are thus themselves illegal.

I'm not saying there isn't, but I'd be surprised to see that there's still a law against cohabitation on the books in Florida.

[USCG_Hurricane_Watcher]

They do it in the military. Actually, adultery is illegal in the military.

You beat me to it...

Public service equates to a public trust...and that's across the board. What gaurantee does the public that dishonesty on the homefront won't manifest itself on the job?

Having been enlisted Army and Coast Guard prior to receiving a comission in the CG, I recall the illegality of adultery as an enlisted soldier/coastie, but now I would probably have to resign my commission and part ways.