Chief Smith: Officer violated policy by leaving firearms, equipment in vehicle before they were stolen

Chief Cecil Smith told commissioners Monday that an officer who had equipment stolen from his police vehicle – including two firearms – broke the department’s policy and is now part of an internal investigation.
Police issued a public safety notice Saturday after the items were stolen out of an unmarked vehicle parked at the Rob Sullivan Park on High Banks Road in DeBary. Someone smashed out the back window of the vehicle and took a police issued Sig Sauer 9mm handgun, a gold Sanford Police Investigator badge, tactical vest with ballistic panels, Motorola radio microphone, handcuff key, and the officer’s personally owned Remington 870, 12-gauge shotgun. Another car in the parking lot was also burglarized.
The officer told police he was watching his child’s softball game at the time the burglary occurred.
The public safety notice was issued to let residents know of the possibility of police impersonation.
During Monday’s work session Smith outlined the department’s policy on personal use of police vehicles and said officers are only allowed to use police vehicles personally when they are on-call. Police vehicles are not to be driven for personal use when the officer is off-duty.
Additionally, the policy states, firearms should be secured or removed from the vehicle when the officer is not present. Other equipment should also be removed or on the officer’s person when they are not in the vehicle.
“He used the vehicle outside the scope of the policy,” said Smith.
There was no explanation as to why a personal firearm was in the vehicle.
Smith said the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the burglary and an internal investigation has been launched within the department to address the incident. Smith said internal affairs is also going over several other departmental violations.
The officer has been placed on desk duty until the internal investigation is complete.
Police are still warning the public to be aware of the possibility of police impersonation and said the public is encouraged to contact local law enforcement in the event they encounter any officer without proper identification.
Anyone with information on the burglary is asked to call CrimeLine at 800-423-Tips (8477) or visit CrimeLine.org. Calls made to CrimeLine remain anonymous and tips to CrimeLine that lead to solving a felony case are eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

- Rachel Delinski, Herald Publisher/Editor, RDelinski@MySanfordHerald.com