SARASOTA, FL -- After three months on administrative leave, Sarasota Police Chief Peter Abbott will lose two weeks of pay following a botched incident involving the handling of a man who had been taken into custody.
The punishment amounts to a two-week suspension for Chief Abbott. An officer, Christopher Childers, has been fired from the force.
The announcment was made Friday by Sarasota City Manager Robert Bartolotta following an independent investigation by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
The June 26 incident involved Juan G. Perez, who was handcuffed and managed to get out of Childers' patrol car. Perez fell to the ground, hitting his head. Childers was captured on surveillance video kicking Perez when he tried to get up.
While Childers conduct was under criminal investigation, Perez was offered a $400 not to sue.
Abbott called that decision "moronic."
"I apologize to the community of officers and staff of the department and any others I've disappointed. I ask the Sarasota community for forgiveness, understanding and prayers," Abbott said at a July news conference.
In their 3,000 page internal affairs report, Hillsborough detectives determined that Sarasota police did nothing illegal, but questioned the entire decision-making process.
A sergeant, another officer and a risk manager for the city were also disciplined, but will not lose their jobs.
Chief Abbott's suspension ends Saturday.
