Northpinellas: Dispute at home costly to deputy

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has demoted and suspended a lieutenant for interfering with Largo police when they responded to a Nov. 29 call at her residence.

Sheriff's Lt. Kimberly Klein blocked officers who tried to restrain her out-of-control daughter, and then failed to tell officers there was crack cocaine in her daughter's car, according to the sheriff's internal affairs report.

"It's not something we frequently have to do," Chief Deputy Dennis Fowler said of Klein's demotion.

Klein was at home with her three children on Nov. 29, when Largo police were dispatched to investigate a report of domestic battery. It was approximately their 38th visit to the residence in the past five years, Largo police Sgt. Mark Young reported in an e-mail.

They found Klein's 18-year-old daughter, Stephanie, to be hostile and violent, scratching and biting her brother Kris, 21, to get her car keys from him, Young said.

Klein was dressed in full uniform because she had returned from her duty on the midnight shift to address the situation at her home.

She physically blocked officers who attempted to restrain Stephanie, saying, "Get your hands off my daughter," according to police. She then went outside with her son to search Stephanie's car.

When she returned from the search, she failed to tell police officers that she had recovered crumbs of crack cocaine. The officers had to find this out for themselves, police said. When asked why she did not tell officers right away, she allegedly responded: "No one asked."

Stephanie Klein was booked on charges of domestic battery, resisting with violence, criminal mischief and assault on a police officer.

The Sheriff's Office conducted an internal investigation, and determined that Klein deserved a 15-day suspension and a demotion to deputy status, which would decrease her salary from $84,621.68 a year to $65,901.26, sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Jim Bordner said.

The consequences of Klein's actions were especially harsh because she already had disciplinary points against her from three months ago, during her time as boot camp commander, Fowler said.

Klein, who will complete her 15-day suspension on Jan. 28, has been employed by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office since 1983.

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Comments on this article

by harry	03/19/07 09:13 PM
first of all, sure is funny the largo police are [as useual] are very vague about why they were called out. chances are they had no business being there to start with. my direct question to pcsd. is why were no felony drug arrest made???? 1 win pcsd.

by Dee	01/20/07 04:33 AM
Why is there so much venom in these comments? Even though deputies are given the charge of upholding the law, let us not forget that deputies are human too. This lady is a mother first and foremost. Being a public servant comes second to family!

by Mike	01/18/07 04:59 AM
My first reaction was, their it goes again, special treatment.How many times does she get a way,Dep. Kline has been a problem her hold career.How many times has she been to Internal Affairs? Yet another slap in the face to those whom she works with.

by BOB	01/16/07 03:50 PM
When you are a C.O. and working 3rd shift,its not easy raising young kids.

by Ed	01/15/07 06:56 PM
Deputy Kline is an utter disgrace to the department and the profession. She has violated the public's trust and the oath she has sworn to uphold the law. Dep. Kline should have been terminated. Sheriff Coats was far too lenient.

by Me	01/15/07 04:32 PM
All I have to say is KARMA!!!!!!

by MS	01/15/07 04:15 PM
She should have been arrested along with her daughter, any other citizen would have been.

by paul	01/15/07 02:20 PM
she should have been fired on the spot. the s.o. waisted tax payers money on their 1-1/2 month internal investigation.

by john	01/15/07 02:06 PM
this officer should be fired. are we the people supposed to trust and believe this person. i would think her fellow officers feel the same way. why is she still on the books? because she is a female?

by Jen	01/15/07 01:45 PM
What you have to understand is that Lt. Klein was already under probation for incidents at boot camp. That's what led to her severe discipline.

by richie	01/15/07 01:25 PM
She should be fired immediately and arrested for the crimes she commited.This type of special treatment will only let other deputies think they are above the law.She should have a criminal record and have to work at Burger King.

by Jen	01/15/07 12:54 PM
As a deputy,she is aware of the laws she violated. Obstruction, tampering with evidence, etc. 38th visit to the home in 5 years? That is interesting. And if this Deputy can't control her own kids, how can she detain criminals?

by John	01/15/07 12:53 PM
Why is she still employed with these people?? Anyone else would have been fired long ago, especially if there has been as many trips to her house to rectify problems. This is not the kind of example we want to show our children. GET RID OF HER.

by dave	01/15/07 12:22 PM
hmm... hiding evidence? obstruction of justice and interfering with officers? I'd say she's barely getting a slap on the wrists.

by Kim	01/15/07 12:01 PM
$84,621.68 a year after 24 years of service. No education but high school. Teachers do not see that even if they have a PhD and 40 years. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office pay very well, yes, Very well.

by Marie	01/15/07 11:53 AM
Klein should be fired.I can't believe she is allowed to stay in the department.She is unstable shows no respect to her fellow officers and is disfunctional. Pinellas must be desperate for deputies or she has a godfather taking care of her.

by Gilbert	01/15/07 11:25 AM
Sherrif Coats, lets see, you have 2 seasoned deputies draw thier firearms on 2 young men, costing the county 100K, now you have a wayward Lieutenant interfering with other officers. To my calculations this is 2 troublesome incidents on your watch!

by Cathy-JUSTICE4KIDS.ORG	01/15/07 11:08 AM
Daughter Stephanie currently in custody since Jan 11 for various charges with high bond. Looks like prof. courtesy was extended on her 9/24/06 arrest, as she was released 21 MINUTES after book-in with NO BOND SET, NO BOND PAID, for POSS OF MARIJUANA!

by dave	01/15/07 10:18 AM
my 1st reaction was that the punishment was too severe. on further thought, if she were not a deputy, she would have been thrown to the ground, handcuffed, taken to jail and been charged with multiple charges. obstruction, interfering, tampering, etc