Chief Says Hurricane Relief Team Used Poor Judgement In Panhandle

PINELLAS PARK, FL -- Two Pinellas Park Police supervisors retired and seven officers were reprimanded following an investigation into the actions of a relief team deployed to the Panhandle following Hurricane Michael.

On Oct. 12, the Pinellas Park Police Department deployed 12 officers to Bay County to provide onsite security for a food preparation and distribution facility operated by Operation BBQ Rescue, a not-for-profit relief organization. On Oct. 19, a second group of 12 officers relieved the first group and came home on Oct. 25.

The following day, police administrators were told that Pinellas Police Sgt. Michael Griffiths brought back a "significant quantity" of Meals Ready to Eat (MREs).

An inquiry found that numerous team members brought back relief supplies intended for hurricane victims so Chief Michael Haworth authorized an internal affairs investigation into the matter.

The investigation was completed last week and concluded that officers used poor judgement but didn't do anything illegal.

According to investigators, as Pinellas Park Police officers were preparing to leave the Panhandle, organizers of Operation BBQ Rescue told the supervisors of the Pinellas Park relief team that they intended to close down operations and that any materials left on the site would need to be removed.

A significant quantity of MREs and other supplies remained on the site so Operation BBQ Rescue organizers gave officers permission to take them..

Police supervisors removed or authorized the removal of 26 boxes of MREs, six boxes of baby wipes, two rope bundles, one box of tarps and a bag of dried fruit from the distribution site.

In addition, seven MRE boxes and a box of tarps were initially placed in police vehicles to distribute to hurricane victims while on missions in Bay County. Those items were inadvertently left in vehicles and brought back home.

Haworth ordered that the items be returned to Bay County.

"Despite permission to do so, the authorization and removal of disaster relief supplies from a storm-damaged area was a poor judgement call made by our supervisory team members," Haworth said. "It is unfortunate that the hard work and aid our agency members provided to Bay County residents on behalf of our city and residents is clouded by this poor decision."

Lt. Scott Golczewski, employed by the Pinellas Park Police since 1995, and Griffiths, employed since 2005, chose to retire before the investigation was completed.

Seven other department members received documented verbal counseling for their poor judgement in the matter, said Haworth.

Image via Operation BBQ Rescue

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