So the media has completely ignored the fact that the New Port Richey Police Department tried to cover up a detective driving drunk in his agency vehicle to a traffic homicide investigation – everyone except Mike Deeson with WTSP 10 News.
Read the story here – Chief Kim Bogart on why New Port Richey Police Did Not Arrest a Detective For Drunk Driving
NPR Police Chief Kim Bogart actually sat down with Mike Deeson for an interview. And what did he say? He says Denton never should have driven from his Wesley Chapel Home to the crash scene. Chief Kim Bogart explained, “When he arrived on the scene other officers noticed he had an odor of alcohol about his breath and he was unsteady.”
According to Chief Bogart, “In this particular case, it was a very good officer, well respected in the department, very hard working, and he made an egregious error.”
The bigger error was Chief Kim Bogart condoning the fact that his officers engaged in a cover up. Several officers saw Christopher Denton driving and behind the wheel. Several officers said he was obviously impaired. Several officers made sure that it was covered up.
When the reporter asked the chief, “Wasn’t there probable cause? Didn’t he get a break by not just charging him instead of ordering him to take the [administrative] breathalyzer?”
Chief Kim Bogart responded, “I’m not going to second guess my field commander for the decision he made. When he told me what he did I told him that was absolutely the right decision.”
The right decision? Absolutely the right decision?
Why hasn’t the State Attorney’s Office in Pasco County taken any action? What did the State Attorney’s Office know and when did they know it? And why did they hide it from every criminal defense attorney in town? It wasn’t until after Mike Deeson ran the story that I finally got a Brady Notice informing me of the IA investigation into Denton’s misconduct.
The State Attorney’s Office did not include the IA investigation with my one page Brady Notice – but you can read it here – New Port Richey IA report from the Christopher Denton case.
What is the State Attorney’s Office suppose to do when Chief Kim Bogart says it is the “right decision.” Isn’t an outside agency suppose to review it? So who else should take action if the State Attorney’s Office and the Police Chief do nothing?
Read more about the Corrupt Investigation of a New Port Richey Police Department Detective Allegedly Driving Drunk to a Roadside Investigation.
Tampa DUI Attorney Blog 
3 Comments
I don’t blame police officers for my troubles, they are doing their job by enforcing the DUI laws, however, they are subject to the same laws as any civilian and should not be exempt from them.
Like I have said many times Florida is in the top of the nation for the most corrupt and greedy legal system. Pasco county is one of the worst counties for a DUI I know I lived there most of my life.
This is disgusting. I am so disappointed.