Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Professional Standards Bureau
- Administrative Investigation Division

Michelle Parsons
Age: 48
Date of Hire: 09/25/06
Termination Effective: 09/21/2018

What:
A detention deputy was terminated for providing confidential information to an inmate worker in regards to an impending cell search.

When:

The incident took place on Saturday, May 12, 2018.

The deputy was terminated effective Friday, September 21, 2018.

Where:
The incident occurred at the Pinellas County Jail located at 14400 49^th Street North, in Clearwater.

Why/How:
A detention deputy was terminated for providing confidential information to an inmate worker in regards to an impending cell search.

According to the administrative investigation, on Saturday, May 12, 2018, Deputy Michelle Parsons was working in a secure housing area of the Pinellas County Jail when she admitted to having a conversation with an inmate disclosing confidential information to an inmate worker in regards to an impending cell search.

Deputy Parsons told investigators, “We started a conversation about something and it just slipped out saying we were having a shakedown.” She then told investigators it has happened “twice.” When asked why she disclosed this information, Deputy Parsons acknowledged she made a mistake and put security of the jail and fellow deputies at risk as a direct result of her actions.

During the course of the Administrative Investigation, Parsons also admitted to the allegations of being less than candid with her chain of command. 

As a result of the investigation, the Administrative Review Board determined that Parsons violated Sheriff’s Office policy and she was terminated effective Friday, September 21, 2018