ORLANDO, Fla. — Last week the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said they are investigating comments made by a deputy following the arrest of Pine Hills murder suspect Keith Moses.
What You Need To Know
- Orange County Sheriff's Office continues investigation into deputy following comments made following the arrest of Pines Hills murder suspect
- President of FOP Lodge 93 gives insight on body worn camera use in Orange County Sheriff's Office
- That remark captured on the deputy’s body camera saying, “They should just let us take him out back and kill him”
A remark was captured on the deputy’s body camera saying, “They should just let us take him out back and kill him.”
This video obtained from the State Attorney’s Office reveals a bit more than what was first released by the Sheriff’s Office in the days after the shooting.
Jeff Stinson, President of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 93, couldn’t speak about this investigation specifically but he is giving insight on how body cameras work within the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
“Anytime they take action they have to activate their camera,” Jeff Stinson said. “That minute beforehand is captured on audio and video so it shows what they were doing just prior to the activation and what comments or verbal exchanges they were having... You always have to be mindful that you are always in the public view with someone’s cell phone camera or even your body-worn camera.”
Spectrum News also spoke with Orlando Attorney Jonathan Rose, who is a 20-year criminal law veteran about the situation.
“That is not protocol — there is nothing protocol about the comment the deputy made. I will be very surprised if the deputy is not sanctioned in the sheriff’s office for that,” said Attorney Rose.
He says if the defense were to go to trial, then this may be something they would bring up.
Though, as far as potential litigation or civil suits for the sheriff’s office— Attorney Rose says it doesn’t seem likely.
Watchdog Reporter and Anchor Curtis McCloud asked, “How big of a deal is this when you look at the totality of the situation?
Rose replied, “That depends on what his actual role in the investigation was. If he is a primary deputy and he had real important responsibilities in the investigation, then his comment becomes far more relevant. But certainly it’s an issue in a sense of the public image that Sheriff Mina wants for his agency and that’s not something the State Attorney’s office wants to have to deal with.”
While Jeff Stinson says most deputies are mindful of their body cameras — he is also leaning on the public for understanding too.
“At the end of the day I just want our community to realize that they are humans wearing a badge asked to do a very tough job and to see the worse of our society at any given time,” Stinson said.
A spokesperson with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office says they do not comment on the ongoing investigation and at this time, the deputy’s name is not being released.