Training deputies violated rules against having sex with a recruit, according to sheriff

Two training deputies in the Volusia County Sheriff's Office resigned during an investigation over allegations that they were having sexual relations with a recruit, according to an email sent to staff by Sheriff Mike Chitwood and posted anonymously on Instagram Wednesday.

Although the instructors, Deputy Emmanuel Pena and Deputy Sean McRae resigned, they still face possible sanctions, Chitwood said in a telephone interview.

"You have probably heard rumors about inappropriate behavior by some former instructors at our Training Academy," the sheriff's email reads. "I just want to address this subject once and for all and put it to rest."

Sherrif's Office spokeswoman Laura Williams said Chitwood sent the email to all Sheriff's Office staff and personnel on Wednesday. She said an internal affairs report was being finalized late Wednesday afternoon.

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According to the email, on July 4, the sheriff learned that the two deputies were having a relationship with a deputy recruit and opened an internal investigation. Both instructor deputies resigned during the course of the investigation which is now complete.

Pena resigned a day after he was informed he was being investigated. McRae resigned a week later. Both deputies have been with the Sheriff's Office for more than five years, Chitwood said.

The Sheriff's Office learned of the inappropriate sexual relationships from other academy recruits, who knew of the relationships between the recruit and the instructors, and were uncomfortable with the situation, Chitwood said.

"There is a silver lining to all this. We learned of this from recruits who knew that something was not right and went to talk to a sergeant," the sheriff said. "I'm very impressed that they recognized it was not right, that they were uncomfortable and reported it."

Sex at the training academy

The findings were that both deputies engaged in sex with the recruit who was under their supervision and in so doing "violated several VSO general orders," the sheriff wrote in the email.

"I want to make it clear that these relationships, while consensual, were inappropriate, unacceptable and a violation of VSO's General Orders. These types of relationships will not be tolerated or condoned by this agency," the sheriff continued.

"I'm not the relationship police, and I know that relationships can develop in any workplace. However, when one party holds a position of influence over the other at work, this imbalance of power can result in the appearance of coercion, intimidation, and/or favoritism. The only good news here is that we found zero evidence of that."

The email closes by asking recipients of the email to review the rules regarding having relationships at work.

Sex inside the facility

In the interview late Wednesday, Chitwood said his agency's investigation revealed that Pena had sex with the recruit inside the facility that serves as the training academy. McRae had a sexual relationship with the recruit and went on axe-throwing dates and to movies after working hours, Chitwood said.

The instructors, who were hand-picked because they were well-respected within the agency, embarrassed the academy and destroyed the culture the Sheriff's Office with their "horrible judgments," Chitwood said.

"We have invested so much time and money into this academy, so I take it personally as a fist in my face," an angry Chitwood said.

Certification review

Although Pena and McRae resigned, the Sheriff's Office is required to file forms and their internal affairs findings with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement which will review them.

The Sheriff's Office filed its findings alleging that Pena and McRae committed moral turpitude, and based on that, FLDE will have a hearing to listen to the deputies' side of the story.

After that hearing, FDLE will then decide whether or not to revoke the deputies' law enforcement certification, Chitwood said.

"I know one thing for sure, they will never be working the VCSO again," the sheriff said.

The female recruit, who said all the sexual encounters occurred voluntarily, continues in the academy with the goal of becoming a Volusia County sheriff's deputy, Chitwood said.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Training deputies had sex with a recruit according to sheriff's email