News 13 has learned four DeLand police officers have been disciplined for violating the department's new policy on police chases -- a policy that was changed last year after a Volusia County man was run over by a police cruiser and killed.

The Deland Police Department has been under the microscope ever since the high-profile death of Marlon Brown, who died in May 2013 after being hit by a DeLand police cruiser.

Police Chief William Ridgway released dash cam video of Wednesday showing one officer violating the policy. Ridgway also released a statement putting his foot down when it comes to his officers following the rules.

The four officers disciplined are:

  • Sgt. Grant Faustich
    • Demotion to the rank of police officer
    • 5% reduction in pay
    • 84 hours suspension from duty without pay
  • Officer Joey Mulero
    • 40 hours suspension from duty without pay
    • 30-day revocation of take-home car privileges
    • 180-day extension of probationary period
  • Officer Michael Paez
    • 40 hours suspension from duty without pay
    • 30-day revocation of take-home car privileges
    • 180-day extension of probationary period
  • Officer Rachel Riley
    • Letter of written reprimand

All four officers must also complete remedial training on the department's pursuit policy and vehicle operation. Ridgway said their actions were "clearly in violation of the pursuit directive and could not be condoned."

According to the DeLand police chief's report, the potential danger to the community was real.

The dash cam video shows officers in pursuit on Nov. 28, 2013 -- Thanksgiving Day -- driving "in a careless manner in an effort to respond to where the pursuit was taking place."

According to the report, the pursuit covered 3 miles through the city of DeLand. Ridgway noted no one was hurt during that pursuit, and the officers' speed did not exceed 52 mph.

However, it was the first pursuit incident following the death of Marlon Brown, whose ex-wife, Krystal Brown, said Wednesday that the police department is too lenient on officers who violate the pursuit policy.

"They reprimanded the guys in this incident, but again, I feel there's no real consequence," she said. "They feel that, and that's why it continues to happen."

To show new pursuit violations will not be tolerated, Ridgway demoted Sgt. Grant Faustich, who authorized the pursuit. Ridgway also reduced Faustich's pay and suspended him for 84 unpaid hours.

Two other officers were suspended without pay, and another received a letter of reprimand.

According to the police chief, the officers put people's lives at risk for a pursuit that did not involve any felony, like an armed robbery or a break-in. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but Ridgway wants his officers to know that pursuits should be initiated in a responsible manner.

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Official statement from DeLand police Chief William Ridgway

On December 6, 2013, an internal investigation was ordered by Chief William E. Ridgway into possible pursuit policy violations by several officers and a sergeant. A patrol lieutenant had written an internal memorandum after he had discovered the potential issue after reviewing daily event logs that were completed by his squads that indicated that two driver’s had fled from the officers.

A thorough investigation was subsequently conducted. One of the incidents that were investigated was determined not to be in violation of the police department directives and was in fact, not a pursuit. It was concluded that the second event was a pursuit that had taken place that did not meet the criteria as set force in the department’s directives. The pursuit was initiated for a traffic violation, obstructed tag, followed by the driver committing the offense of aggravated fleeing and eluding. Although the fleeing and eluding is a felony, it is not a forcible felony which is what the internal directive requires to initiate a pursuit. It should be noted that the pursuit never exceeded 52 miles per hour and the offender slowed significantly or stopped completely for traffic control devices. However, it was determined that it was clearly in violation of the pursuit directive and could not be condoned. In addition, two other officers drove in a careless manner in an effort to respond to where the pursuit was taking place. Their speeds were determined to be excessive and their actions were also deemed to be unacceptable. Both of those officers’ driving habits were scrutinized further and at least one additional driving issue was identified for each of them.

The DeLand Police Department was involved in a tragic event in May of 2013, during which an individual lost his life after he was impacted by a marked patrol vehicle. Since that event occurred additional training took place department wide in an effort to avoid any similar tragedies in the future. That training included actual emergency vehicle operation on a closed course, as well as remedial training on the pursuit directive for the department. As a result of this incident additional training is scheduled to occur again in order to reemphasize the importance of adhering to the pursuit directive and the need to perform law enforcement duties in a responsible manner. /p>

Although no crash occurred and no persons were injured during this incident, the potential danger to the public was real. All of the officers involved acknowledged their mistakes and accepted responsibility for their actions. The three officers involved had no previous disciplinary actions in their personnel files against them. The sergeant had several performance related issues previously documented in his personnel file that resulted in corrective and disciplinary actions against him.

Upon conclusion of the investigation significant disciplinary actions were immediately imposed against all of the officers involved. Those actions are as follows:

Sergeant Grant Faustich

- Demotion to the rank of police officer
- 5% reduction in pay
- 84 hours suspension from duty without pay
- Remedial training on the department’s pursuit policy and vehicle operation

Officer Michael Paez

- 40 hours suspension from duty without pay
- 30 day revocation of take-home car privileges
- One hundred eighty day extension of probationary period
- Remedial training on the department’s pursuit policy and vehicle operation

Officer Joey Mulero

- 40 hours suspension from duty without pay
- 30 day revocation of take-home car privileges
- One hundred eighty day extension of probationary period
- Remedial training on the department’s pursuit policy and vehicle operation

Officer Rachel Riley

- Letter of Written Reprimand
- Remedial training on the department’s pursuit policy and vehicle operation

Regardless of the fact that no one was injured and no crash occurred, a strong message needed to be reinforced to the department as a whole that these types of actions will not be tolerated. Forcible felonies do occur and the legitimate need to pursue violent offenders will continue to be supported when performed in a responsible manner and within the guidelines of the directive. However, clear violations of our directives such as this, will not be condoned. If an officer’s actions are determined to be careless or fall outside of our approved directives, swift disciplinary action will occur, up to and including termination.