In West Palm Beach, three police captains are now under investigation after a lawsuit that delayed proceedings for over a year was dismissed. These captains, who have been on paid administrative leave for 19 months, are accused of working off-duty jobs while on the clock for the city. The officers have denied any wrongdoing, with their attorney, Paul Daragjati, stating that the allegations are incorrect and can be disproven.
Investigation Details
The investigation, which has involved criminal reviews, internal affairs proceedings, and audits, was initially stalled due to a legal challenge by the police union. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office had previously conducted a criminal investigation but found no grounds to file charges. Daragjati argues that the city’s flawed timekeeping systems created the appearance of overlapping work hours, a vulnerability that had been highlighted by an outside auditor years ago.
The union’s lawsuit claimed that city officials were aware of these issues but delayed their investigation. However, the lawsuit has now been voluntarily dismissed after obtaining various documents from the city. The captains, feeling prepared, have agreed to proceed with the interviews conducted by Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office investigators.
Impact on Police Department
The investigation has already led to changes within the department’s leadership. Former Assistant Chief Tameca West and former Major Michael Deighan, who were also on leave, have returned to work but were demoted to captain. They too will be interviewed regarding similar allegations. The findings of the investigation will be submitted to Police Chief Tony Araujo, who will decide the future of the captains involved.
This investigation began during the tenure of former Police Chief Frank Adderley, who was dismissed shortly before the case came to light. The ongoing administrative leave of the officers has cost taxpayers over $1 million in salary and benefits.
Original reporting: WPBF West Palm Beach — read the source article.
