Full Confidence in Monte Falls and Police Chief, David Currey, Expressed by City Council
Questions, allegations remain concerning the eight month escapade of two city residents prying into the affairs of the Vero Beach Police Department (VBPD). Then, there is the politics.
Last week’s discussion on the fate of 34-year veteran police officer and current Vero Beach Police Chief, David Currey, demanded action. After the reading of findings by City Manager, Monte Falls, and, the overwhelming community support that was expressed during the special call meeting on April 29th at City Hall, the City Council voted 5-0 on the final motion by Vice Mayor, Linda Moore, asking for the Council’s “full confidence in Chief Currey.”
Prior to this final vote, three other motions with unanimous support were executed. The first was a motion by Linda Moore in full support of Mr. Falls. In emails written by resident, Lanse Padgett, the city manager and Chief Currey were accused of “systemic incompetence,” and Mr. Padgett being “lied to” by both of them. The emails were concerning the investigation process arising out of Mr. Padgett’s eventual complaint made with his fellow business partner and city resident, Tom Corr. In discussion of the motion supporting Mr. Falls, councilwoman, Tracey Zudans said unequivocally, “if there is no actionable item in writing, or that has been presented, then I think we need to move forward with a vote of confidence.”
The City Council voted 5-0 in support of Mr. Falls.
Mayor John Cotugno followed with another motion. “I make a motion that the Vero Beach City Council supports the police department and its outstanding service to the community.”
Another unanimous vote was roll-called.
The Mayor was followed by councilman, Jim Carroll, who said, “I just want to make a motion to terminate any further investigation, comments — anything related to the extension of staff time on the matter.”
Before public comment, councilman, Taylor Dingle, had proffered a completely independent investigation. “Trust but verify,” said Mr. Dingle after the meeting. After the show of immense support by prominent community residents, including members of the Victims’ Rights Coalition, regional police chiefs, a state’s attorney’s office, 5 former city council members and 2 former city managers, any further investigation was doomed.
Again, the vote was 5 to 0.
Community members in attendance applauded each vote. Earlier, they gave a standing ovation in honor of Chief Currey when he finished his remarks. Well, all but one did applaud. Mr. Padgett sat toward the back and observed the proceedings. Afterwards, he told reporters on City Hall steps, “I think there is going to be some legal issues here. Them making up their theory of what’s happened here, that’s totally not O.K. in a public forum.”
A simple offer to help...
What exactly happened during an eight month inquiry by two city residents concerning how Chief Currey leads the VBPD? Indeed, Mr. Padgett did not even speak on Monday as he promised in an April 26th email addressed to the city manager. Mr. Padgett copied the city council members, city attorney and Mr. Corr, who, according to Mr. Padgett, was unable to attend the ‘special call’ meeting because he was on a pre-planned trip. Mr. Padgett wrote, “[Monte], I have professionally questioned decisions made by you and Chief Currey … I will continue to speak on the truth at the meeting on Monday.”
According to Mr. Padgett, he and Mr. Corr met to see how they could help after the shooting last September in the parking lot of Humiston Park which is directly across from the offices of Mr. Corr. Mr. Padgett expressed that he and the noted philanthropist really wanted to help solve what looked like an increase in crime. Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FLDE) data contradicts any claim that crime is on the rise. Crime is actually going down in Vero Beach. However, a shooting on the beach is not normal. A stabbing at the Grind and Grape, along with four other crimes involving weapons on New Years Eve, is not normal.
In a follow-up meeting with Chief Currey, Mr. Padgett says the Chief wasn’t forthright on some things and the deterioration of trust began to develop. Afterwards, Mr. Padgett began to talk with officers on the street to get an assessment of VBPD. As trust eroded, Mr. Padgett continued talking with officers and soon, officers began to reach out to him directly to share their stories about a lack of leadership and a hostile work environment.
Based on information gathered through public records requests and the remarks of Mr. Falls, there were accommodations made by the city to facilitate hearings of evidence that Mr. Padgett says suggests a hostile work environment. The city hired an independent counsel, Stephanie Marchman, to conduct anonymous interviews of officers and staff willing to testify. This process was to assure there would not be reprisal against those who came forward, even if their claims did not reach a “whistleblower standard” found in the law. Nobody testified.
Internally, Human Resources Director, Gabrielle Manus, conducted an investigation about the claims of a hostile work environment. She interviewed 21 of the 83 personnel who were mostly in supervisory roles. The interviews were conducted with “the Deputy Chief, five lieutenants, seven sergeants, the four corporals and four additional employees of the VBPD…”
Regarding the hostile work environment she wrote, “This situation was unusual in the fact that there were no specific instances or allegations to which I could refer,” adding, “All I had were vague allegations that it existed but no supporting details.”
Ultimately, that is what City Council members referred to in their findings. The evidence of gross mismanagement by Chief Currey was not presented. Councilman Carroll remarked, “I don’t think we need any investigation because we don’t have any facts … If it is just allegations, then how are we going to be able to figure out what is going on?”
In conclusion Ms. Manus determined, “After speaking with all individuals, I did not find any evidence of inappropriate behavior on the part of the Chief. In addition, I did not find any evidence of the existence of a hostile work environment.”
However, Mr. Padgett has testimonies that mostly come from regular officers. He told reporters, “The city of Vero Beach has some great, great officers. Unfortunately, they feel that they are very held back from doing their jobs and targeted if they speak about their superior’s leadership.”
On Monday, Mr. Padgett deferred from public comments during the special call meeting. Believing the meeting was coordinated and only allotted three minutes to speak, Mr. Padgett felt he could not adequately state the case. At the end of the meeting, the evidence supporting the allegations against Chief Currey did not get presented.
A single conversation about VBPD gets fueled by politics.
Monday’s discussion began with the prepared statements from Mr. Falls regarding concerns presented by Mr. Padgett and Mr. Corr at a lunch meeting on September 7, 2023. Mr. Falls stated, “They told me that they didn’t think David Currey was the right person to lead the VBPD … Finally, they told me that Milo Thorton should be Chief Currey’s replacement. For the record, I discussed this with Mr. Thorton and he emphatically stated that he was 100% committed to the race for Indian River County Sheriff.”
The Sunshine Journal sought documentation of that contact with Capt. Thorton through a public records request, but there isn’t any available.
Outside City Hall with reporters, Mr. Padgett addressed the question about Capt. Thorton which conflicted with the city manager’s timeline. He said, “Did I speak to Milo on January 1st after the stabbing incident at the Grind and Grape, asking, ‘Would you be interested in taking this job?’ - because he had said years ago, he would have been interested in this job. He said, ‘No. I’m committed to the sheriff’s race.’”
Mr. Padgett countered Mr. Falls’ testimony that it was his and Mr. Corr’s plan to replace Chief Currey with Capt. Thorton in September. Reached for comment, Capt. Thorton confirmed Mr. Padgett’s timeline. “I was at my mother’s on New Years Day for our traditional holiday celebration. My mother makes a home cooked meal with black eyed peas and collard greens. We were on the porch when Mr. Padgett phoned me to ask if I would be interested in the police chief position,” he said, adding, “The first time I spoke to Monte [Falls] was 4 months later. He did not contact me immediately after that meeting [in September]. My first contact with Monte was when I reached out on April 26th to tell him I was not coming to that special call meeting.”
Capt. Thorton is currently running for IRC Sheriff and has been campaigning since April of 2023. By that September meeting date, Capt. Thorton had an unprecedented $220,000 in reported contributions. Capt. Thorton has maintained he is totally focused on being Sheriff. “I was always taught growing up, to finish what you have started,” adding assertively, “That’s why I told Mr. Padgett, ‘I’m not interested.’ I am committed to everyone that supports my campaign and winning this election for sheriff.”
The mysterious email
The Sunshine Journal asked Capt. Thorton about the April 24th email that was read by Mayor Cotugno, titled, “Shame on you.” Described as “negative” by the mayor, it came from an account named Vote MT with the address, gomiloin2024@gmail.com. The email is addressed to Chief Currey and signed ‘Concerned Citizen.’ Copied on the email is Fellsmere Police Chief, Keith Touchberry, the VB City Council and suspiciously, Vero News / 32963 reporter, Ray McNulty. The content of the email is below. Capt. Thorton said, “I have no idea who sent this email. It was not authorized by me. It was not affiliated with my campaign or anyone on my team at all. I didn’t even know its contents. This type of politics disgusts me and I won’t tolerate it. I asked for a criminal investigation because from what I understand, there are other emails from this address.”
Mr. Padgett doesn’t have a clue about it either. The person behind the email made multiple requests targeting Keith Touchberry’s relationship with Chief Currey and the VBPD even asking for all of his credit card spending on one request. The ‘Concerned Citizen’ asked for texts messages for the last 90 days citing the public records law, even suggesting in one email, what is and what is “not exempt from public records inspection.” That the sender included the Vero News / 32963 reporter in their email addressed to City Council of April 24th, could suggest the owner of the email account is a political operative not in favor of candidates, Chief Touchberry and Capt. Thorton. All of the public records request are titled “Touchberry Records...” The last request was made Thursday, May 2nd, and copied Vero News / 32963 reporter, Ray McNulty.
The VBPD investigation requested by Capt. Thorton was recently closed.
What’s next?
What are the charges contained in the 20 officer statements that Mr. Padgett has heard? After the meeting, Mr. Padgett said to reporters he would speak to those officers who gave him statements. He commented, “I’ll ask them, ‘Hey, do you want to continue this? Do you want to stand up for yourselves, and if so, do you want me to continue to help you?’ I have told them I would stand with them if they want to push this further.”
According to Mr. Padgett, “pushing further” means answering how to present their stories without the officers being subjected to targeted reprisals for doing so. Like the City Council, the officers that Mr. Padgett has spoken with want to have full confidence and trust in their police chief.