Flagler sheriff's
sergeant suspended with pay
By
JULIE MURPHY, Staff writer
BUNNELL -- A Flagler
County sheriff's sergeant and former "officer of the year" has been
placed on administrative leave following an internal affairs investigation but
officials remain closed-lipped about the disciplinary decision they say is
still under review.
Sgt. Jamie Roster, a K-9
handler and assistant shift supervisor with Charlie Squad and Crime Suppression
Team supervisor, was placed on leave with pay March 22, according to a
memorandum issued by Chief Deputy David O'Brien.
"After careful
review of all documentation and final information presented at the
pre-disciplinary conference held on March 13, 2012, the decision has been made
to place you on administrative leave with pay, until further notice, to
commence on March 22, 2012," O'Brien wrote.
O'Brien's memo was
issued to Sheriff Don Fleming, administrators at the Sheriff's Office and the
attorney for the Central Florida Police Benevolent Association.
Sheriff's officials
won't say what the "documentation" and "final information"
are that prompted the disciplinary action.
"The IA (internal
affairs investigation) is not complete," sheriff's spokeswoman Debra
Johnson said. "There are many different steps. I can't even get the report
until all those steps are completed."
Roster, who joined the
Flagler Sheriff's Office in 2001, has received several commendations and
promotions, including from corporal to sergeant on Aug. 24. He earns $51,867 in
base annual salary plus $700 insurance, according to the status change form
that accompanied his promotion.
He was named
"officer of the year" for the agency in May 2010. Roster was
presented then with the Deputy George Durrance Law Enforcement Officer of the
Year Award in honor of Durrance, who was killed in the line of duty in 1927.
"(Roster) was
recognized for his individual excellence, teamwork and professional service in
many facets of the agency," officials announced at the time.
The sergeant has
received 16 letters of commendation during his career, according to his
employee file.
Roster was given a
"temporary reassignment" on Jan. 12 to the Alpha Squad. The reason
given was "due to a member's scheduled medical leave."
Johnson was unable to
say how long the investigation would continue.
"His (internal
affairs investigation) is not completed yet, so I can't confirm the topic of
the investigation," she said in a written statement dated April 2.
Roster's employee file
was made available to The News-Journal on Monday.
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