St. Pete Police Officers Disciplined by Chief Harmon

St. Petersburg Police Chief Chuck Harmon has cited five St. Petersburg Police officers after a chain of command and shooting review boards meeting.

Police Illegally Look Up, Insult Former Officer 

According to police, the first board review involved officers Douglas Gaddis, 35; Robert Leoce, 38; James Olson, 45; and Courtney Zak, 33.

The investigation, according to information released by Harmon, stemmed from an incident on Oct. 12, 2012 involving the four officers use of the Florida Driver and Vehicle Information Database to access information on a former officer.

Harmon's memorandum said the officers responded to a call of shoplifting at the Tyrone Square Mall and after arriving, began a conversation about a former police department employee with Valor Security Services.

"While on scene, officers were approached by an employee of Valor Security Services. The employee engaged officers in conversation unrelated to the shoplifting investigation.

The conversation led to the topic of a former St. Petersburg Police Department officer, who is a current employee of Valor Security Services. At the request of Officer Olson, Officer Gaddis used his cruiser laptop computer to display a "Photo Line-up" from the Florida Driver and Vehicle Information Database (DAVID), of the former St. Petersburg police officer.

The displayed images depict the former officer in a gradual gender change from female to male and were seen by the Valor Security Services coworker and the other officers on scene."

The memorandum then said officers began to make "disparaging remarks" about the former employee. 

Harmon determined the allegations of improper procedures against Zak and Leoce were sustained and they received memorandums of counseling.

Allegations of improper procedures were also sustained against Gaddis and Olson, and they received employee notices, a news release said.

Officer Gets Notice for DUI

Officer Jenna Price, 26, was investigated regarding allegations of conduct unbecoming an employee and unlawful conduct stemming from her Oct. 13, 2012 arrest for driving under the influence, police said.

Allegations against Price were sustained and she received an employee notice and a 200-hour work suspension, according to the police report.

Additionally she must abstain from the consumption of alcohol for five years and will subject to random alcohol tests for the next 18 months.

Police Review Officer Involved Shooting

An officer-involved shooting from Jan. 6 led to an investigation by the shooting review board. 

Harmon and the board concluded that Officer Jonathan Reeves, 27, was justified in the shooting. 

According to shooting board documents: 

On January 6, 2013, Officer Jonathan Reeves responded to a simple battery complaint in the area of 155 5th Avenue South. Officer Reeves was on duty and wearing his Department issued uniform. Officer Reeves attempted to make contact with the suspect of the battery at his residence, located at 144 Delmar Terrace South.

Officers Reeves knocked on the door and announced himself by saying, "Police." The suspect then displayed a handgun (later recovered and identified as a pellet gun) through a window in the door. Officer Reeves then retreated from the door. The suspect then stepped out of the door and pointed the handgun at Officer Reeves. Officer Reeves attempted to get to cover and also put distance between himself and the suspect.

When Officer Reeves had exhausted those means and the threat was still imminent, he discharged his firearm one time at the suspect. The suspect retreated back into the residence. The suspect was not struck, and there were no injuries resulting from the discharge.

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