Chief punishes three officers in scandal

Police Chief Jerry Bloechle says the conduct of two officers involving the youth Explorer group affects the public's confidence in the department.

By JANE MEINHARDT

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 28, 2000

LARGO -- Police Chief Jerry Bloechle suspended two officers and reprimanded another Tuesday for their roles in the Largo Police Explorers scandal in the early 1990s.

Two police disciplinary panels had recommended written reprimands for all three, but Bloechle disregarded those recommendations for Officer Karl Gracy and Sgt. Scott Dorflein, both of whom were accused of having relationships with one member of the youth Explorer group.

Although no specific policies were in effect in 1992 prohibiting fraternization between officers and Explorers, Bloechle decided the two officers' misconduct with members of the youth group affected the public's confidence in the department.

Gracy was suspended for five days. Dorflein was given a three-day suspension.

The police Explorers is a Boy Scout program designed to provide on-the-job training for youths 14 to 21.

Allegations about improper relationships between Largo officers and female Explorers surfaced in March. An Internal Affairs investigation that began in late March determined that Gracy had consensual sex off-duty once in 1992 with an Explorer who was 18 or older. Dorflein told investigators the same Explorer had gone to his apartment, but he denied having a sexual relationship with her.

Sgt. Melanie Holley, a former adviser for the Explorer post, was reprimanded for not reporting facts and rumors about improper relationships between officers and Explorers.

Bloechle could not be reached Tuesday. In letters released late in the afternoon, he said Gracy and Dorflein each had violated department policies involving unbecoming conduct and public confidence.

"Given the amount of public attention that has been given to this matter, one cannot argue that your conduct has not affected the public confidence in the police department," Bloechle wrote. "The public absolutely must have confidence in the employees of this department to refrain from such behavior, and the community must have confidence in its police officers and the Police Department's ability to control the behavior of its employees."

Bill LauBach, Police Benevolent Association director, said he would recommend the officers appeal their discipline.

"I think it's totally uncalled for," LauBach said. "I have a real strong feeling this came from the city manager. He wanted to demonstrate something, but I'm not exactly sure what."

"There was no victim in this case. It's simply a face-saving thing for the city. This has been orchestrated and engineered from the city side."

City Manager Steve Stanton denied LauBach's assertions and said Bloechle did the right thing.

"I think it sends a loud and clear message: If you engage in inappropriate action . . . we are committed to dealing with it appropriately," Stanton said. "I think it shows we took this thing very seriously."

Officials had discussed firing the officers, he said, but attorneys advised against it.

Although some Largo residents will think the discipline is an overreaction, others will say it is not severe enough, Stanton said.

Asked if anything positive resulted from the Explorer scandal, Stanton said, "It shows how important it is as an organization to be real focused when these situations arise. And the hear-no-evil, see-no-evil that occurred in the early '90s is not appropriate."

Mayor Bob Jackson said he, too, was pleased by the chief's decision -- particularly that each officer seemed to get an individual judgment.

"I wanted differentiated discipline," he said. "They tailored it to the seriousness of the matter."

Commissioner Mary Laurance said she felt the two male officers should have received identical punishments.

"I'm not real thrilled about it," she said. "But I think we really need to get it over with."

LauBach noted that there were no complaints in the investigation. The Explorers involved told investigators they initiated the contact with officers.

"This activity was well-known and condoned by management," LauBach said. "Everybody was just winking at what was going on, some of them still are with the department. I'm very disappointed with this hypocrisy and prudishness."

Bloechle has been criticized for not adequately investigating when allegations were made in December 1998. Largo officer John Ferraro, who killed himself during an investigation into his relationship with a minor, left a suicide note warning that rules needed to be strengthened because officers and Explorers had improper relationships.

Without talking to any Explorers, Bloechle decided Ferraro's allegations were baseless. The March investigation began after televised reports from a former Explorer who said Largo officers used the group as a dating service.

The Explorer scandal cost Mac Williams, the police department's spokesman, his job. Bloechle asked for Williams' resignation May 26 for his handling of the media during the investigation.

In early June, Bloechle announced he would retire in October. He cited stress and recent health problems.

- Times staff writer Eric Stirgus contributed to this report.

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