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INVESTIGATING THE POLICE: THE JUAN G. PEREZ INCIDENT

On June 26, a videocamera at the Sarasota County Jail recorded a Sarasota police officer kicking a handcuffed suspect.

Before the department even had finished investigating possible criminal charges against the officer, the city had paid out $400 to the man who was kicked, Juan G. Perez. A Herald-Tribune reporter happened to be at Perez’s home on July 16 when a police detective drove Perez to the bank to cash the $400 check.

Combining the criminal investigation with the civil settlement violates a basic rule of police work, say legal experts who also have suggested that police officials may have broken the law.

Police Chief Peter Abbott apologized to the community, and implied that the unusually quick settlement attempt came only after the detective had taken Perez's statement for the criminal investigation. But an e-mail obtained via a public records request showed that that police considered sending a detective with a settlement offer even before beginning the criminal investigation.

The fallout includes:
• Abbott placed on paid leave on July 24;
• Sarasota City Manager Robert Bartolotta seeking an outside agency to do an administrative review;
• Six or more police offers under scrutiny; and
• Perez, 21, working with an attorney to possibly sue the city.

Recent Articles About Investigating the police: Juan Perez incident

Top 10 Stories of 2009: Sarasota Edition
Published December 30, 2009
Police panel needs focus
Published December 3, 2009
The overall mission of Sarasota's blue-ribbon police review panel is straightforward: Find ways to restore confidence in the city Police Department. But to meet that goal, the panel is being asked to tackle at least 14 tasks -- many of them complex...
Police review panel appears ready to take a tough look
Published December 1, 2009
City Commissioners went looking for watchdogs when they appointed a new citizen panel to oversee the police department. At the group's first meeting on Monday night, it was clear the commissioners got what they wanted. One member of the panel --...
Abbott returns, out to win back trust
Published November 22, 2009
Wearing his black uniform for the first time in four months on Saturday, Police Chief Peter Abbott sat straight up in his chair as he talked about the importance of professionalism, and of regaining the trust of the public one handshake at a time.
The chastened chief
Published November 21, 2009
Peter Abbott resumes active duty today as Sarasota's police chief, weakened by a long investigation of his department's bungled response to an unnecessary force case. The release yesterday of more details from an independent investigation supported...
Changes ahead for Sarasota police department
Published November 21, 2009
City Manager Bob Bartolotta said Friday he will task Police Chief Peter Abbott with implementing a number of changes in the department in response to the Juan G. Perez case. Here is a look at those changes. • Abbott will help implement changes...
Sarasota police chief, 3 officers disciplined
Published November 21, 2009
Chief Peter Abbott and three officers were disciplined for policy violations in the Juan G. Perez videotaped kicking case.
Recommended police fixes
Published November 20, 2009
City Manager Bob Bartolotta said Friday he will task Police Chief Peter Abbott with implementing a number of changes in the department in response to the Juan G. Perez case: - Abbott will help implement any changes recommended by a recently...
Sarasota police chief suspended for 2 weeks
Published November 20, 2009
Chief Peter Abbott and three officers were disciplined for policy violations in the Juan G. Perez videotaped kicking case.
Police union to challenge officer discipline
Published November 20, 2009
The police union plans to defend officers who were disciplined for their roles in the Juan G. Perez case, slamming City Manager Robert Bartolotta for his involvement in the investigation. A representative for the Police Benevolent Association said...