Police chief nets unpaid suspension

High Springs Police Chief Jim Troiano will receive a 24-hour unpaid suspension after an outside investigation found that he had violated several city policies.

Questions of appropriate tone, language and professional conduct were the issues that prompted High Springs City Manager Jim Drumm to hire an independent agent to investigate what happened during two July 14 phone conversations between Troiano and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office grants administrator Kelly Amerson.

Holly A. Dincman from the law firm of Coppins, Monroe, Adkins and Dincman, P.A., who conducted the investigation, returned her findings to the city Aug. 31. Dincman didn’t agree that Troiano reacted with a “Mel Gibson-like tirade,” as Amerson originally described when she informed Sheriff Sadie Darnell of the phone calls that had left her shaky and flustered.

But she did find that his conduct during the two conversations amounted to five separate violations of city policy, including use of improper language, which is a level five violation.

Other violations include a level three violation of private and professional conduct, which provides “Members shall conduct their private and professional lives in such a manner as not to bring discredit to the High Springs Police Department;” a level two violation of proper conduct toward the public; a level one violation of agreement to adhere to the High Springs Personnel Manual; and a violation of the High Springs Personnel Manual, “which establishes the following as grounds for disciplinary action —‘Rudeness or acts of disrespect to the public, elected officials, co-workers, or supervisors.’”

Upon receiving the investigative findings, Drumm explained the next step would be for him to hold a pre-disciplinary hearing with Troiano.

Drumm said this meeting affords the defendant in any complaint one last opportunity to defend him or herself and to answer to any of the findings, if they so choose. They may also bring forth any significant new information or evidence they feel might make a difference in their case.

However, Troiano waived his right to this hearing, leaving Drumm to allocate appropriate disciplinary action based on the results of the investigation.

He presented his decision to Troinano Wednesday evening with a formal letter explaining his reasoning.

Drumm said that based on the investigation, which includes witness testimony on both sides, he found Troiano behaved unprofessionally, and he elected to issue him a 24-hour unpaid suspension.

Sheriff Darnell, who was the first to request that Drumm look into the matter of how her employee was treated, declined to comment on the results because she has not been contacted by the City of High Springs.