Officer Shown in Video Feeding Prisoner Like 'Dog' Resigns

Just minutes before Sarasota Police Officer Andrew Halpin was scheduled to sit for an interview before the department’s internal affairs division, he handed in his resignation.

“I hereby resign for personal reasons effective immediately,” read the letter Halpin turned into his patrol shift commander at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, the Sarasota Police Department announced in an email to media.

Halpin, who served the city since Nov. 1, 2006, was under investigation following the release of a video shot inside the Sarasota County Jail. Halpin was shown on the video feeding a handcuffed prisoner peanuts by throwing them into the man’s mouth.

The video surfaced on Monday, July 27, prompting Halpin’s immediate placement on administrative leave with pay. The police department kicked off an internal affairs investigation that day. The investigation was scheduled to be complete on Wednesday.

See Also:

• Video: Cop Feeds Homeless Handcuffed Prisoner Like a ‘Dog’
• Deputy Suspended for Not Stopping Mistreatment of Prisoner

“We take allegations of this matter seriously and this one incident does not reflect upon the professionalism of the men and women who work hard to uphold the public trust of the Sarasota Police Department,” said Chief Bernadette DiPino in the email. “The behavior I saw on that video was unacceptable however Mr. Halpin chose to resign before providing us with his side of the story and before our investigation was completed.”

A Sarasota County deputy was suspended last week for watching the scene unfold and not intervening on the prisoner’s behalf.

The incident that led to investigations at both agencies took place during the July 18 booking of inmate Randy Miller on trespassing charges. In the video, Halpin is seen tossing peanuts into Miller’s mouth as the man was sitting on a bench, handcuffed. A few minutes into the video Miller is shown attempting to eat the peanuts off the floor as Halpin kicks them in his direction.

The video showed the actions taking place within the line of sight of Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office employees. Only one patrol deputy was suspended following the incident.

It is unclear if any further actions will be taken.

Sarasota County Jail surveillance video screenshot