Post by WaTcHeR on May 24, 2006 9:37:25 GMT -5
05/24/2006 - ST. PETERSBURG - A city police officer who unwittingly shot another officer with a stun gun in April did not violate department policy, according to documents released Friday.
Robert Kocak, the officer struck by the Taser on April 26, was out of line, though, the documents state. Kocak was pretending to be a prowler in a scene set up for two Tampa Bay Buccaneers football players to illustrate what police do.
Officer Wes Callahan was not told of the scenario before he came upon it and thought it was real He mistook Kocak for an actual suspect and shot him in the back with his Taser.
Kocak received a written reprimand and was suspended for one day.
Though he had discussed his prowler role with Sgt. Randy Morton and Lt. Bill Sohl, he made no mention about acting aggressively with a golf club in his hand, according to a 13-page report by Maj. Tom Carey.
The original plan was that when Buccaneers Rick Razzano and Chris Hovan came upon the "prowler" while they were on a police ride-along, Kocak would open his coat and show them a sign that read, "Go Bucs from SPPD [St. Petersburg Police Department]."
Morton and Sohl also received written reprimands and one-day suspensions. Morton told other officers of the scenario before it took place, but Callahan and another officer were not at the briefing.
Sohl failed to tell police dispatchers about the setup, and he made no announcement on the radio because he wanted to ensure the athletes were caught unaware by Kocak's antics, Carey's report states.
When Callahan heard on the radio "suspicious person at Central Avenue and 24th Street" at about 10 p.m., he assumed it was real, the documents said.
He and another officer rushed to the scene, and Callahan saw the suspect pulling the golf club from under his coat, swinging it in the air and screaming. He yelled "Taser," Kocak didn't respond, and Callahan discharged his stun gun.
"This was an unfortunate incident; it was an isolated incident," Police Chief Chuck Harmon said. "It involved some poor judgment with three senior department members ... Each of them has expressed some remorse and have apologized for bringing bad light or discredit onto the department."
Robert Kocak, the officer struck by the Taser on April 26, was out of line, though, the documents state. Kocak was pretending to be a prowler in a scene set up for two Tampa Bay Buccaneers football players to illustrate what police do.
Officer Wes Callahan was not told of the scenario before he came upon it and thought it was real He mistook Kocak for an actual suspect and shot him in the back with his Taser.
Kocak received a written reprimand and was suspended for one day.
Though he had discussed his prowler role with Sgt. Randy Morton and Lt. Bill Sohl, he made no mention about acting aggressively with a golf club in his hand, according to a 13-page report by Maj. Tom Carey.
The original plan was that when Buccaneers Rick Razzano and Chris Hovan came upon the "prowler" while they were on a police ride-along, Kocak would open his coat and show them a sign that read, "Go Bucs from SPPD [St. Petersburg Police Department]."
Morton and Sohl also received written reprimands and one-day suspensions. Morton told other officers of the scenario before it took place, but Callahan and another officer were not at the briefing.
Sohl failed to tell police dispatchers about the setup, and he made no announcement on the radio because he wanted to ensure the athletes were caught unaware by Kocak's antics, Carey's report states.
When Callahan heard on the radio "suspicious person at Central Avenue and 24th Street" at about 10 p.m., he assumed it was real, the documents said.
He and another officer rushed to the scene, and Callahan saw the suspect pulling the golf club from under his coat, swinging it in the air and screaming. He yelled "Taser," Kocak didn't respond, and Callahan discharged his stun gun.
"This was an unfortunate incident; it was an isolated incident," Police Chief Chuck Harmon said. "It involved some poor judgment with three senior department members ... Each of them has expressed some remorse and have apologized for bringing bad light or discredit onto the department."