On Thursday, June 30, 2011 St. Petersburg Chief of Police Charles “Chuck” Harmon convened a Chain of Command Board to review allegations against two St. Pete Police officers; Major David Hawkins, who oversees the Department’s Vice and Narcotic Division, and former Officer William Brownridge.
The allegations against Major Hawkins included “Guilt or conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, Conduct Unbecoming an Employee (CUBE) and Improper Procedures.
Major Hawkins, along with his family, was visiting Plant City to check on a colleague’s property and to engage in some target practice while there. He observed two vehicles parked at the south end of the property and took photos of them. The property had a history of trespassers and thefts. When Hawkins and his family were ready to go, Hawkins fired two rounds from his privately owned hunting rifle into an embankment to scare the trespassers away. He heard voices call out “cease fire”; the voices were three Marines, there to set up for a training exercise the next day. Hawkins left the area immediately and was stopped by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s, who after speaking to both Hawkins and the Marines, determined that no crime had been committed.
Hawkins received a three day suspension for Conduct Unbecoming an Employee, for discharging a firearm while not in target practice. The felony charge was found to be unsubstantiated.
Former Officer Brownridge was charged by the States Attorney with Petit Theft, after it was determined that he had taken cash from suspects on two different occasions while arresting them for hit and run and a traffic stop. He was observed by another officer of taking money from the suspects and later putting it in his wallet.
Effective April 19, 2011, former Officer Brownridge resigned from the Department before the investigation could be completed. He was charged with numerous violations of the St. Pete Police General Orders. The Board determined that Office Brownridge would have been terminated had he not resigned.
The Chain of Command Board consists of Chief Harmon, Assistant Chief Luke Williams, Uniform Services Bureau, Major Cheryl Johnson of the Uniform Services Bureau District 1, and Sgt. Christopher Emmert, Uniform Services Bureau, District 1.
Comments