Belleair ticket-fixing allegations examined

Asked by city officials, the State Attorney's Office begins a preliminary inquiry.

By DEBORAH O'NEIL

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 22, 2000

BELLEAIR -- The State Attorney's Office is examining allegations at the Belleair Police Department that high ranking officers may have fixed tickets for selected residents.

Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bernie McCabe said Tuesday that a decision has not been made whether to conduct a full investigation. Currently, his lawyers and investigators are determining whether one is needed.

"We're conducting a preliminary inquiry," said McCabe. "What we're going to do is look at what they brought up and see if we have any jurisdiction over anything."

Evidence of a crime would trigger an investigation, McCabe said.

"I look to see if there's anything that has criminal connotation as opposed to just administrative stuff," McCabe said. "I don't do that."

The state attorney's involvement comes at the request of Town Manager Steve Cottrell and Police Chief George Harmansky.

Since Harmansky arrived in July, he said people have told him that tickets written by street officers were later "taken care of" by certain high-ranking officers. He investigated one such charge himself and determined it was unfounded. However, Harmansky still is concerned enough that he wants help from an outside agency.

"The allegation is a citation would be issued by an officer and someone would take that citation before it got into the system and void it," Harmansky said.

While there are valid reasons to void tickets, he said, "The allegation is more or less that process was being used to void tickets that were issued legitimately."

Earlier this month, Belleair officials asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to do a similar investigation but officials there referred them to local authorities.

"This request is largely centered first and foremost on any kind of ticket improprieties and enforcement improprieties,' Harmansky said. "Where that takes them is unknown at this point in time."

McCabe's investigators have begun talking with members of the department, which has 11 sworn officers. Town officials are especially interested in knowing whether current employees doled out favors.

"They're going to ask a lot of questions of a lot of different people," Cottrell said.

Harmansky said it's important for the department to clear up these questions, even if the activities are no longer occurring.

"Just because it's past tense doesn't mean the offense didn't occur," Harmansky said. "If there was one, justice should be brought to bear."

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