VOLUSIA EXPOSED

VOLUSIA EXPOSED.COM

In the recent SVAA scandal, the county easily identified their conflict of interest, thus causing the county to call in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the matter.

So, why can't the County of Volusia also see a similar, if not more blatant conflict of interest surrounding several in-custody death investigations at the Volusia County Jail?

Updated
January 26, 2012

"Every actual State is corrupt. Good men must not obey laws too well."- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Recently, the media has reported some problems within the Southeast Volusia Ad Authority (SVAA).

The problems / suspicions and allegations attached to the SVAA, have caused the Volusia County Council to order county staff to take over the responsibilities of the SVAA.

Volusia County officials have even contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, requested their assistance in the investigation of possible criminal wrong doing.

VolusiaExposed.Com found it interesting that Volusia County officials found it necessary to reach out to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for their investigative assistance.

VolusiaExposed.Com made contact with Gary Davidson, the spokesman for the Volusia County Sheriff Department. We inquired whether the VCSO were capable of handling such an investigation of the SVAA, and if so, why would county government opt to bring in FDLE?

Please review our email with Mr. Davidson and his response.

We agree with Mr. Davidson, that due to the obvious conflict of interest between the County of Volusia and the SVAA, that an independent investigative body (FDLE) should conduct the investigation.

What VolusiaExposed.Com can not understand, is how the County of Volusia can so clearly see the conflict of having the VCSO investigate the SVAA matter, but apparently can not see the more blatant conflict of interest of having the VCSO investigate several questionable in-custody deaths at the Volusia County jail? Therefore, we sent Mr. Davidson the following email in an attempt to gain further clarification.

Mr. Davidson provided the below email response. In short the SVAA matter is considered to be criminal in nature, while the in-custody deaths are not considered to be criminal. Mr. Davidson also states his belief that the public does not consider it a conflict for the VCSO to investigate these deaths.

These deaths have the obvious falsification of documents by correctional officers attached to them (criminal activity ?). Further, the death investigations by the Volusia County Sheriff Department appears to have been influenced by a blatant conflict of interest between the VCSO and the Volusia County Legal Department.

VCSO Major Robert Jones supervises the investigators that conduct these in-custody death investigation, while his spouse, Assistant County Attorney, Nancye Jones has in the past handled many civil lawsuits coming out of the county jail.

Obviously, several in-custody deaths within the jail in which correctional officers were falsifying documentation, could open the county to serious litigation - that is unless, the law enforcement investigation into those death could be manipulated. We suggest the possibility, that this is exactly what has occurred regarding these in-custody deaths (the manipulation of a law enforcement investigation). We invite you to review the events surrounding several in-custody deaths at the Volusia County jail. Pay particular attention to the below Tracey Veira death investigation - notice how VCSO Investigator Campanella, along with the Medical Examiner Investigator, questions how the condition of the Inmate Veira's body (state of rigor mortis) is not consistent with the last documented interactions with correctional staff. Notice how, in Investigator Campanella's initial report, he states that he will follow up on that inconsistency, but his final report never even mentions it. It should also be noted that unlike most counties in Florida, the Volusia County Medical Examiner's office is operated by the county, rather than the State of Florida. After, you finish reviewing the events of the Tracey Veira in-custody death, you will find a link at the bottom of the Veira web page that will take you to other similar questionable in-custody deaths at the Volusia County jail.

FYI - Marion County jail has all their in-custody deaths investigated by FDLE, this is done in order to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

IS THIS WHAT YOU EXPECT OUT OF YOUR VOLUSIA COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT?

VolusiaExposed.Com wishes to express that we are neither anti-law enforcement or anti-VCSO - in fact, VCSO is a well respected and well staffed agency - our frustration with this agency is, that it should clearly be able to see the obvious conflict of interest with them investigating in-custody deaths of jail inmates. Since the State of Florida did away (1997) with the Florida State Prison Inspector's oversight in county jail incidents (including deaths) - any and all deaths within the Volusia County jail have received no independent investigations. Sheriff Johnson should correct this oversight, by insisting that Volusia County follow Marion County's lead, and have FDLE investigate these deaths. Absent that, the stink of corruption and cover-up will be attached to these and any future in-custody deaths.