Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
- Field Training Unit

Deputy Recruit Darold Cook
Hire Date: 11/09/2015

Deputy Recruit Julia Hopkins
Hire Date: 11/09/2015

Deputy Recruit Joshua Mason
Hire Date: 11/09/2015

Deputy Recruit Thomas McDonnell
Hire Date: 11/09/2015

Deputy Recruit Bruce Ramos
Hire Date: 11/09/2015

Deputy Recruit Diana Shoemaker
Hire Date: 11/09/2015

Deputy Recruit Michael Walker
Hire Date: 11/09/2015

Deputy Eric Biddle
Hire Date: 02/10/2012

What:
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri announced the termination of 7 deputy recruits. The deputy recruits were terminated after it was discovered that they cheated on Field Training Program written and oral board exams and/or lied about their involvement in cheating. One patrol deputy has resigned as a result of the investigation.  

When: 
The investigation began on January 21, 2016. The Sheriff’s announcement came at approximately 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 25, 2016.

Where:
The deputy recruits were employed at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office located at 10750 Ulmerton Road in Largo.

Why/How:
On January 25, 2016, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri announced the termination of 7 deputy recruits. The deputy recruits were terminated after it was determined that they cheated on Field Training Program written and oral board exams and/or lied about their involvement in cheating.

According to Sheriff Gualtieri, the investigation began on January 21, 2016, when supervisors from the Patrol Field Training Program suspected that the deputy recruits may have cheated on their Phase I FTO exams.

Through the investigation, it was determined that 7 deputy recruits obtained copies of the Field Training Phase I and Phase II written exams, as well as Phase I and II oral board exams. These copies were the actual exams upon which they were tested. Several of the recruits scored 100% on their Phase I exams and planned to use the material to cheat on their Phase II exams. Some deputy recruits lied when initially questioned about the issue.

“7 deputy recruits obtained copies of actual FTO exams, used the exams to their benefit, cheated and lied,” said Sheriff Gualtieri. “We have nothing in the law enforcement profession without our integrity and there is no place for cheaters and liars in law enforcement and certainly not in the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.” 

It was also determined that Field Training Deputy, Eric Biddle, improperly provided the exam material to the deputy recruits. Deputy Biddle resigned today.