Sheriff's Office Clean-up Efforts Net Another Deputy

In an on going effort by the Hillsborough County, Florida, Sheriff's Office to clean up their department and prop up the negative image they have earned, twenty-eight year old Anthony Samuel McKenzie was arrested after a month-long Internal Affairs and Intelligence Division Investigation.

When taken into custody McKenzie had 3.9 grams of marijuana in his work boot that he had intended to smuggle into the Orient Road Jail.

McKenzie, who has admitted to smuggling drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and food into the jail, is facing one count of introduction of contraband into a detention facility, one count of bribery and one count of possession of marijuana. The smuggled items were sold to inmates and paid for by contacts outside of the jail.

The 2 1/2 year veteran was booked into the jail he previously guarded and released after posting a $4,500 bond. McKenzie has been suspended without pay.

Last month, a 7-year veteran of the Hillsborough County Sheriff Office with an exemplarily record, Raymond Choy, was arrested after forcing a hit-and-run suspect to perform oral sex on him. Officer Choy was arrested on sexual battery charges and released on $15,000 bond after DNA evidence linked him to the crime. He is currently on paid administrative leave.

Choy was hired in 2000 and had an exemplarily performance record. His personnel file is filled with commendations and letters of thanks. "Deputy Choy is truly an asset to my platoon," Lt. S.J. Launikitis of the HCSO wrote in a 2004 performance review. A deputy chief with the department said Choy’s arrest sent feelings of “disgust and betrayal” through the ranks.

I think that there are two things that should be examined in detail with these cases. I’m sure 2 ½ years working as a guard didn’t drive McKenzie to become a criminal. I think the hiring process should be carefully reviewed in addition to the way deputies are supervised, especially relatively new deputies such as McKenzie.

The other item that needs detailed assessment is what caused a deputy with a perfect record to act in such an outrageous manner. Was the stressor that triggered his behavior personal or job related? If job related what can be done to help other officers deal with similar job stresses in the future. And regardless of whether the trigger was a job or personal issue what can be done to prevent a good cop like this from going bad in the future?

Whatever the reasons behind Deputy Choy’s act it was a major violation of public trust and should be dealt with harshly.