Police chief chooses to step down

Acknowledging the toll of a recent scandal, Chief Jerry Bloechle will retire Oct. 1.

By ERIC STIRGUS

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 7, 2000

LARGO -- Police Chief Jerry Bloechle on Tuesday abruptly announced he is retiring after 20 years with the department, admitting that allegations of officer misconduct with members of a youth Explorer post took a toll on him.

Jerry Bloechle decided to quit after being hospitalized last week for heart problems.

Bloechle, 49, who has been in law enforcement for 31 years and chief for nearly three years, made his decision after being hospitalized late last week for heart problems. His retirement is effective Oct. 1.

"After 31 years, he realized he's in a good position to leave while he's still young and can do other things," said City Manager Steven Stanton, who met in his office with the chief for two hours Tuesday afternoon.

Stanton, who said he was disappointed with Bloechle's initial inquiry into charges that officers were engaged in inappropriate relationships with members of the youth group, said he did not pressure the chief to resign. But Stanton also said he did not try to persuade Bloechle to change his mind.

Bloechle did not return a telephone call for comment. He sent an e-mail to the Police Department just after 5 p.m. explaining his decision.

"Events of the past several months have taken a toll on the department, on my family, and on me personally," the statement says. "My hospitalization last week, although not for a dangerous condition, has caused me to reflect upon what is important to me. Having had the opportunity to consider what is best for the department, for my family, and for me personally, I have reached a decision to submit for retirement."

Bloechle oversees 124 officers. His current annual salary is $75,732.

Bloechle's announcement caught many in City Hall off guard. City commissioners were in an executive session when the statement was released, and some did not know about Bloechle's decision Tuesday evening.

After meeting with Stanton, the chief called his top commanders, first the captains and then the lieutenants, into his office about 5 p.m. Tuesday to relay the news.

Bloechle joined the department Sept. 24, 1980. He was hired away from the Mud River, Ohio, police force after he and his wife vacationed in the Largo area and decided they wanted to stay.

Bloechle was instrumental in creating Largo's domestic violence program and served as chairman of the county's Domestic Violence Task Force. Bloechle got tough on traffic violators, frequently setting up traffic details to catch speeders and drunken drivers.

He also ordered that all his officers be versed in the philosophy of community policing, although the department's program had been criticized by some city officials and residents in recent weeks.

"I think Jerry, during a 20-year career, has made a significant contribution to having a truly professional department," Stanton said.

While working for Largo, Bloechle has been in charge of almost every police operation.

"He's a cop's cop," said former Mayor Thomas Feaster, who named him chief in 1997 and still serves as Bloechle's occasional fishing partner.

But the glare from the Explorer situation cast an uncomfortable light on Bloechle and the department.

Bloechle recently admitted he did not thoroughly investigate a claim in a suicide note written by John Ferraro, a Largo officer who shot himself in December 1998 during an investigation into his relationship with a minor. In the note, Ferraro warned that officers were having relationships with Explorers.

Bloechle told a Times reporter in April 1999 that Ferraro's allegations were unfounded.

But in March, nearly a year later, the department began an investigation into the program after a television reporter asked for Explorer records. The investigation, which ended in early May, confirmed three Largo officers had sexual relationships with police Explorers and at least two supervisors knew or should have known about rumors of such trysts.

Bloechle explained to city commissioners at a commission meeting last month that he did not fully investigate the matter because many officers were distraught after Ferraro's suicide and the department was in "crisis." The chief also said he did not think there were enough specifics in Ferraro's suicide note.

"If I had it to do over again, hindsight being 20-20, I would do it differently," he said at the commission meeting.

Less than two weeks ago, Bloechle was embroiled in another round of controversy after forcing his spokesman Mac Williams to resign. Williams said the chief did not like the way he handled the media during the Explorer investigation. Bloechle has not commented on the matter.

Mayor Bob Jackson questioned Bloechle's decision to remove Williams before any of the officers who were found to have acted inappropriately with Explorers had been disciplined.

On Tuesday, Jackson said he was saddened by Bloechle's decision.

"The unfortunate thing is this (Explorer misconduct) happened before" Bloechle became chief, Jackson said. "You hate to have something like this happen. I really hate to see him go."

Stanton said he will conduct a national search for a replacement.

"The department needs a fresh approach to re-evaluate priorities where we are going with in community policing and bring some diversified experiences," he said.

-- Information from Times files was used in this report.

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