Brent Radan, with his actions on the streets of Belle Glade and his braggadocio on facebook, brought an Internal Affairs investigation down on himself and his two subordinates.
Radan had been a Police Explorer in high school. He eventually served as a Lieutenant for this group. Seven years ago, he joined the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office.
But by 2008, he did not see or portray himself as a crime fighter. He likened himself to the cartoon character “The Punisher”. So much so, that he sometimes sported a camouflage watch cap inscribed with the word "PUNISHMENT” when patrolling the streets of Belle Glade and the other rough and tumble communities in the surrounding areas.
He had a facebook page. On it, there are a number of things that give one pause:
His personal slogan: “It's not crime fighting....Its dealing out PUNISHMENT”
Another comment, “...if i have to run i bring the ass kicking with me”,
In his photo album section, there are booking pictures of suspects who have required medical attention. They have the feeling of trophy mount displays. Under one of these, Radan comments about the suspect having been on the biting end of gravity and “But like a good batterer I know the areas that hide the marks well.” (Apparently not, if this picture is any indication.)
But, I will say one of the statements that has been repeated across the press, may need to be looked at in context. It is the statement about not having hit anyone in 14 days. If you look, Radan has just finished a job in Mafia Wars. The exchange right after this statement is also about Mafia Wars. I think there might be the possibility that he was referring to performing a hit in the context of that facebook game.
Whether the self promotion and allegations made on his facebook pages are true or not, the damage has been done. The result of the investigation was the firing of Deputies Gregory Lynch & Michael Woodside and Radan's demotion from Sergeant to Deputy.
But the real damage is that which has been done to the image of and trust in the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office. It is especially so in the western part of the county, where these three patrolled and confronted people on the streets.
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