Bunnell, FL - A detective with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office is back to work after finishing an unpaid six-week suspension he was given following an arrest in St. Augustine.
Detective Richard Petkovsek was arrested back on November 23rd of last year after a public disturbance at the White Lion Bar. There, Petkovsek and two other women were refusing to leave the bar. When officers arrived, Petkovsek was engaged in a shouting match with the bouncer.
Petkovsek was asked to leave and officers began to file a trespass warning, but Petkovsek did not give them his ID. When he tried to walk away, an officer grabbed his arm and he yanked it away. After trying to walk away again, officers took Petkovsek to the ground and handcuffed him. He was charged with disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest.
The State Attorney's Office offered Petkovsek a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA). Once the requirements of his DPA were met, the charges were dismissed and he accepted the offer on December 11th.
The Flagler County Sheriff's Office also conducted an internal investigation into the matter which determined he had violated agency standards and policies.
According to a release sent by the FCSO, Petkovsek received extensive discipline that included: A suspension without pay for 42 days; planned transfer to a specialized unit was rescinded; written apology to the FCSO, the St. Augustine Police Department and the White Lion Bar and Lounge; reimbursement of the costs of the investigation and prosecution; forfeiture of annual step pay increase for 2020; mandatory Employee Assistance Program; and will be on disciplinary probation for one year.
“While the FCSO does not in any way condone Detective Petkovsek’s actions, up until this incident he has demonstrated nothing but professionalism and passion for community service including being the 2017 Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for Flagler County,” Chief of Staff Mark Strobridge said in a release. “While he was not fired, significant discipline is being imposed. We believe that he will successfully complete his disciplinary probation agreement and live up to the standard of conduct expected of each FCSO employee.”
