Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Tallahassee has released its report on drug informant Rachel Hoffman's death, as well as the disciplinary action being taken within the Tallahassee Police Department.
The city also has released a report from the state attorney general's office into the investigation. That report was requested by City Manager Anita Favors Thompson and Police Chief Dennis Jones.
Hoffman, a 23-year-old graduate of Countryside High School in Clearwater, was fatally shot in May while helping Tallahassee police with a narcotics investigation.
On Aug. 1, a Leon County grand jury said police negligence contributed to Hoffman's death. It recommended that Tallahassee police discipline the officers participating in the case and change procedures and policies on the use of informants. The panel also indicted Andrea Green, 25, and Deneilo Bradshaw, 23, on first-degree murder charges.
The circuit court judge who was assigned the case Bradshaw and Green case signed an order today allowing the city to release the reports, with some information redacted that could affect the case.
The city and attorney general's reports found police had well-established policies but that policies were not always adhered to at the necessary level, according to a written statement from the city. Policy violations included problems with supervision, officer conduct, drug-buy operations and confidential information documentation and control.
According to the statement from the city:
Police Chief Dennis Jones requested that investigator Ryan Pender's employment be terminated.
Jones also wanted this disciplinary action taken: Deputy Chief John Proctor, reprimand; Capt. Chris Connell, two-week suspension without pay; Lt. Taltha White, two week suspension without pay; Sgt. David Odom, two week suspension without pay; Sgt. Rod Looney, two week suspension without pay.
Jones is reassigning White, Odom and Connell within the department.
"We have taken the necessary time to conduct a thorough and honest review and asked others to examine our operations," Jones says in the statement from the city. He said he has contacted Hoffman's family and provided a report.
"While we cannot change the events of May 7, we can make the type of changes within the department to help ensure our future actions are consistent with policy," Jones said.
Thompson also issued a reprimand to Jones to require a stronger level of supervision from top to bottom in the department.
Hoffman's friend Ed Sonnenschein, 53, of Tallahassee, said in August that Hoffman might have sold marijuana but that she was a great person who didn't deserve to die. He said the officers should be held accountable.
Sonnenschein said Hoffman, a graduate of Florida State University, was fun and had a great sense of humor. When he first met her, he said, it was like he had known her for 10 or 20 years.
Before the drug deal that led to Hoffman's death, she called investigators to tell them the location of the meeting had changed. Investigators explicitly told her to stay at the park location set up by narcotics officers, Tallahassee Police Department spokesman David McCranie said in May. Instead, he said, Hoffman hung up.
Hoffman violated protocol when she left the location secured by police for the deal, McCranie said.
Police never saw her alive again. Her body was found in rural Taylor County, southeast of Tallahassee.
After her death, Tallahassee police defended their use of Hoffman as a confidential informant. Her family and friends said police put an unprepared young woman in a dangerous situation.
The undercover operation began when Hoffman agreed to work with police after being arrested on several drug charges, including possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana and possession with intent to sell ecs*asy.
Hoffman appeared to make a good informant because she was 23, mature and intelligent - someone police thought would follow directions well, McCranie said. She was the one who suggested police investigate Green and Bradshaw, McCranie said.
About 800 friends and family members gathered in May for Hoffman's funeral.
"She packed a lot of life in her 23 years," her father, Irv Hoffman, said at the time. "And I wish I was more like her, celebrating life."
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Tampa Bay Online
Copyright: 2008 Media General Communications Holdings, LLC. A Media General company
Contact: TBO.com Member Center: Contact Us - The Tampa Tribune
Website: Tallahassee Outlines Discipline In Police Informant's Death
The city also has released a report from the state attorney general's office into the investigation. That report was requested by City Manager Anita Favors Thompson and Police Chief Dennis Jones.
Hoffman, a 23-year-old graduate of Countryside High School in Clearwater, was fatally shot in May while helping Tallahassee police with a narcotics investigation.
On Aug. 1, a Leon County grand jury said police negligence contributed to Hoffman's death. It recommended that Tallahassee police discipline the officers participating in the case and change procedures and policies on the use of informants. The panel also indicted Andrea Green, 25, and Deneilo Bradshaw, 23, on first-degree murder charges.
The circuit court judge who was assigned the case Bradshaw and Green case signed an order today allowing the city to release the reports, with some information redacted that could affect the case.
The city and attorney general's reports found police had well-established policies but that policies were not always adhered to at the necessary level, according to a written statement from the city. Policy violations included problems with supervision, officer conduct, drug-buy operations and confidential information documentation and control.
According to the statement from the city:
Police Chief Dennis Jones requested that investigator Ryan Pender's employment be terminated.
Jones also wanted this disciplinary action taken: Deputy Chief John Proctor, reprimand; Capt. Chris Connell, two-week suspension without pay; Lt. Taltha White, two week suspension without pay; Sgt. David Odom, two week suspension without pay; Sgt. Rod Looney, two week suspension without pay.
Jones is reassigning White, Odom and Connell within the department.
"We have taken the necessary time to conduct a thorough and honest review and asked others to examine our operations," Jones says in the statement from the city. He said he has contacted Hoffman's family and provided a report.
"While we cannot change the events of May 7, we can make the type of changes within the department to help ensure our future actions are consistent with policy," Jones said.
Thompson also issued a reprimand to Jones to require a stronger level of supervision from top to bottom in the department.
Hoffman's friend Ed Sonnenschein, 53, of Tallahassee, said in August that Hoffman might have sold marijuana but that she was a great person who didn't deserve to die. He said the officers should be held accountable.
Sonnenschein said Hoffman, a graduate of Florida State University, was fun and had a great sense of humor. When he first met her, he said, it was like he had known her for 10 or 20 years.
Before the drug deal that led to Hoffman's death, she called investigators to tell them the location of the meeting had changed. Investigators explicitly told her to stay at the park location set up by narcotics officers, Tallahassee Police Department spokesman David McCranie said in May. Instead, he said, Hoffman hung up.
Hoffman violated protocol when she left the location secured by police for the deal, McCranie said.
Police never saw her alive again. Her body was found in rural Taylor County, southeast of Tallahassee.
After her death, Tallahassee police defended their use of Hoffman as a confidential informant. Her family and friends said police put an unprepared young woman in a dangerous situation.
The undercover operation began when Hoffman agreed to work with police after being arrested on several drug charges, including possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana and possession with intent to sell ecs*asy.
Hoffman appeared to make a good informant because she was 23, mature and intelligent - someone police thought would follow directions well, McCranie said. She was the one who suggested police investigate Green and Bradshaw, McCranie said.
About 800 friends and family members gathered in May for Hoffman's funeral.
"She packed a lot of life in her 23 years," her father, Irv Hoffman, said at the time. "And I wish I was more like her, celebrating life."
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Tampa Bay Online
Copyright: 2008 Media General Communications Holdings, LLC. A Media General company
Contact: TBO.com Member Center: Contact Us - The Tampa Tribune
Website: Tallahassee Outlines Discipline In Police Informant's Death
