Police chief suspension
Memos: City Manager disappointed
By TOM GERMOND
| Article published on Friday, June 19, 2009 |
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LARGO - The city has worked hard to make sure it operates with the “highest possible integrity to maintain the public trust,” but fell short in disciplining a police officer found “fixing” a ticket, City Manager Mac Craig wrote in a June 8 report.
According to the disciplinary action report on Police Chief Lester Aradi, Craig was “disappointed in your (Aradi’s) judgment and decision making” concerning the actions committed by Officer Anthony Citrano, who Aradi suspended for 10 days after he voided a ticket for a woman who ran a stop sign about a year ago.
Craig suspended Aradi for three days for violation of the city’s code of conduct.
The actions taken by Officer Citrano, as per city policy, call for his immediate dismissal, Craig wrote in the disciplinary action report.
“Also, based on the precedent you (Aradi) have set in issuing this discipline, it makes it difficult for you, other department directors and the city of Largo to uphold termination for similar infractions,” his memo said.
Craig said Aradi did not consult with Human Resources during the process and that Citrano cannot be fired at this time because he has already received the discipline the chief issued.
Aradi said June 18 he thought the punishment given to Citrano was appropriate, but added that “I understand the city manager wants us to be consistent with other departments.”
In a memo dated May 29, Aradi wrote that Citrano was also removed from the sergeant’s promotional eligibility list for a period of one year. He also said he found Citrano’s “self-reflection and contrition to be genuine.”
“I also take note that you have served this agency and our community with absolute distinction and without a blemish on your record,” Aradi wrote.
He also wrote that Citrano had removed “hundreds of impaired drivers” from the streets.
A memo from Citrano said he was sorry for causing any embarrassment to the department and making work for everyone in the chain of command.
“Yes, no one was hurt and it was not done maliciously but that does not matter,” Citrano wrote. “Even though my actions were based on my heart rather than my head and no matter what the motive; it was wrong. I know that I have paid dearly for my actions, and I am more ashamed and embarrassed that I can say.
“The words ‘I am sorry’ do not convey how bad I feel about this incident. No matter what good I have done in the past and what good I will continue to do in the future. My worst fear is that some people may only thing of this when they think of me, that this is the worst punishment I feel can be issued to any honorable man.”
Citrano is nine-year veteran of the department. Two other officers also received five-day suspensions.
According to an internal affairs report, Citrano conducted a traffic stop on June 22, 2008, and issued a traffic citation to a woman for running a stop sign. A passenger in the vehicle called or sent a text message to dispatcher Amanda Wormhood, asking if she could get the citation dropped for the driver.
Wormhood was not working at the time and was with Officer John Sinni, who left a message for Citrano. Citrano called back Sinni and had a discussion about the citation he issued the driver. He told Sinni that he already submitted the citation but would extend courtesy and have the ticket voided.
Sinni advised Wormhood that he spoke to Citrano about the ticket, and it was going to be voided. He told Wormhood to tell the driver that she can throw away the ticket.
Citrano drafted a memo to traffic court officials, asking that the citation be voided out. A judge dismissed the citation.
The internal affairs investigator, Sgt. T.J. Block, conducted interviews with officers involved in the incident as well as the driver and the passenger.
Block said that on May 8, Citrano told him that he remembers voiding the citation but does not recall the conversation.
“He said he drafted a memo to have the ticket dismissed, stating that he realized what he did was not right. He said he made a decision with his ‘heart rather than my brain’ and was doing a favor for Officer Sinni,” the report said.
Sinni received a five-day suspension; Wormhood also received a five-day suspension.
Aradi, who has been chief since 2001, said “this is the first blemish on my record.”
Craig agreed. On June 18 he called Aradi “a fine police chief” who made an error in judgment.
“He (Aradi) can be chief as long as I’m here,” Craig said.
Aradi, who has been chief since 2001, said June 18 he “loves our city and have the utmost respect for our city manager.”
Aradi was honored by the Florida Police Chief’s Association June 17 with an award designed to “recognize individuals for exceptional performance and/or their support and advancement of the law enforcement profession.”
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Article published on Friday, June 19, 2009
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