City leader blasts hire of jailed cop

Doglips · 10-02-2002, 07:38 AM

2nd police department near me that made the news today....this quoat

He describes the situation as "endemic" and nationwide. "Often they can get them at a lower cost because of their checkered past."

To me shows the real problem that smaller deptments face.

City leader blasts hire of jailed cop

By Alicia A. Caldwell | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted October 2, 2002

EDGEWATER -- The current city manager of this small, riverfront community had no involvement in hiring Ronald Harry Robbins, a former police sergeant now charged with second-degree murder.

Ken Hooper said his predecessor didn't get a vote either in 1987.

Given Robbins' spotty record at other departments -- he was forced out of two Brevard County agencies -- the troubled officer known for his sometimes overly aggressive manner would have little chance of being hired in 2002, Hooper said.

He said he is mystified that Robbins was ever allowed to wear the Edgewater uniform. "In today's city government, I can tell you clearly he would not have passed our hiring standards," Hooper said. "When I asked that same question in the past, I was told we had a limited number of applicants and resources."

Police and city officials now work together to hire Edgewater officers. That was not the case when Robbins, now 42, applied.

Robbins is not the first officer to get a second chance. According to an Orlando Sentinel review of personnel records from 14 area departments with 25 or fewer sworn officers, some smaller agencies appear to become havens for once-troubled officers.

Roger Goldman, a St. Louis University School of Law professor, blames the phenomenon on tight budgets and few resources to recruit and retain good officers. He describes the situation as "endemic" and nationwide. "Often they can get them at a lower cost because of their checkered past."

About eight months after resigning from Edgewater, Robbins was arrested in connection with the shooting death of Jason Lee Starkey, who had been sought for the Sept. 7 shooting death of Daniel Redding. He has been held without bail in the Volusia County Branch Jail since his Sept. 22 arrest.

According to personnel records, Robbins was asked to resign from the West Melbourne Police Department in 1984 because he "abused his authority" and had problems on the road. After nine months in the department, which now has nearly 30 officers, Robbins moved on to Titusville, a department with more than 80 officers. He was fired about 18 months later for lying on a police report, documents show.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which oversees all police officers and issues law-enforcement certifications, investigated Robbins after he was fired. Jennie Khoen, an FDLE spokeswoman, said the case was dismissed in 1987 because of insufficient evidence.

Robbins maintained his law-enforcement certificate until he resigned from Edgewater in January. His certification is now listed as inactive because he is not working as a police officer, Khoen said. FDLE officials opened a new investigation after Robbins' arrest, Khoen said.

Robbins' troubles, including reports of aggressive behavior and difficulty handling authority, continued while he was with Edgewater, home to more than 30 officers, personnel records show.

In 1998, records show, he was ordered into anger-management counseling after accosting two officers in a gas station parking lot while off duty. He also lost 24 hours of vacation, records show.

A few years later, in November, several employees complained that Robbins had come to work unfit for duty and that they suspected he was using drugs. A drug test later came back negative. He resigned after the Fraternal Order of Police, which contended that the drug test violated the department's collective-bargaining agreement, reached an agreement with the city that included six months' pay and some health benefits.

Hooper said the agreement was best for all involved. "After reviewing all his records and past performance . . . it was clear that I didn't want him as an officer. A severance package was how we reached that agreement."

Alicia A. Caldwell can be reached at acaldwell@orlandosentinel.com or 386-851-7924.

Copyright © 2002, Orlando Sentinel

Klaus · 10-02-2002, 08:20 AM

They obviously did not test Robbins for the right drugs. And the department must have a very poor agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police, if drug testing with cause is prohibited.

oneastrix · 10-02-2002, 12:58 PM

Sounds like a real piece of crud to me. Those are the ones I resent.

NRAJOE · 10-02-2002, 01:30 PM

These are the ones that tarnish the badges of the good ones. Unfortunately the public always remembers the bad and not the good!

10-02-2002, 07:38 AM	#1
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,088	City leader blasts hire of jailed cop 2nd police department near me that made the news today....this quoat He describes the situation as "endemic" and nationwide. "Often they can get them at a lower cost because of their checkered past." To me shows the real problem that smaller deptments face. City leader blasts hire of jailed cop By Alicia A. Caldwell \| Sentinel Staff Writer Posted October 2, 2002 EDGEWATER -- The current city manager of this small, riverfront community had no involvement in hiring Ronald Harry Robbins, a former police sergeant now charged with second-degree murder. Ken Hooper said his predecessor didn't get a vote either in 1987. Given Robbins' spotty record at other departments -- he was forced out of two Brevard County agencies -- the troubled officer known for his sometimes overly aggressive manner would have little chance of being hired in 2002, Hooper said. He said he is mystified that Robbins was ever allowed to wear the Edgewater uniform. "In today's city government, I can tell you clearly he would not have passed our hiring standards," Hooper said. "When I asked that same question in the past, I was told we had a limited number of applicants and resources." Police and city officials now work together to hire Edgewater officers. That was not the case when Robbins, now 42, applied. Robbins is not the first officer to get a second chance. According to an Orlando Sentinel review of personnel records from 14 area departments with 25 or fewer sworn officers, some smaller agencies appear to become havens for once-troubled officers. Roger Goldman, a St. Louis University School of Law professor, blames the phenomenon on tight budgets and few resources to recruit and retain good officers. He describes the situation as "endemic" and nationwide. "Often they can get them at a lower cost because of their checkered past." About eight months after resigning from Edgewater, Robbins was arrested in connection with the shooting death of Jason Lee Starkey, who had been sought for the Sept. 7 shooting death of Daniel Redding. He has been held without bail in the Volusia County Branch Jail since his Sept. 22 arrest. According to personnel records, Robbins was asked to resign from the West Melbourne Police Department in 1984 because he "abused his authority" and had problems on the road. After nine months in the department, which now has nearly 30 officers, Robbins moved on to Titusville, a department with more than 80 officers. He was fired about 18 months later for lying on a police report, documents show. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which oversees all police officers and issues law-enforcement certifications, investigated Robbins after he was fired. Jennie Khoen, an FDLE spokeswoman, said the case was dismissed in 1987 because of insufficient evidence. Robbins maintained his law-enforcement certificate until he resigned from Edgewater in January. His certification is now listed as inactive because he is not working as a police officer, Khoen said. FDLE officials opened a new investigation after Robbins' arrest, Khoen said. Robbins' troubles, including reports of aggressive behavior and difficulty handling authority, continued while he was with Edgewater, home to more than 30 officers, personnel records show. In 1998, records show, he was ordered into anger-management counseling after accosting two officers in a gas station parking lot while off duty. He also lost 24 hours of vacation, records show. A few years later, in November, several employees complained that Robbins had come to work unfit for duty and that they suspected he was using drugs. A drug test later came back negative. He resigned after the Fraternal Order of Police, which contended that the drug test violated the department's collective-bargaining agreement, reached an agreement with the city that included six months' pay and some health benefits. Hooper said the agreement was best for all involved. "After reviewing all his records and past performance . . . it was clear that I didn't want him as an officer. A severance package was how we reached that agreement." Alicia A. Caldwell can be reached at acaldwell@orlandosentinel.com or 386-851-7924. Copyright © 2002, Orlando Sentinel

10-02-2002, 08:20 AM	#2
Klaus Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 2,382	They obviously did not test Robbins for the right drugs. And the department must have a very poor agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police, if drug testing with cause is prohibited. __________________ "Gee, Wally, Eddie Haskel's mom puts out!"

10-02-2002, 12:58 PM	#3
oneastrix Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 5,213	Sounds like a real piece of crud to me. Those are the ones I resent. __________________ There's no one more thankful to sit at the table, than the one who best remembers hunger's pain.

10-02-2002, 01:30 PM	#4
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,252 Images: 3	These are the ones that tarnish the badges of the good ones. Unfortunately the public always remembers the bad and not the good! __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany