A Florida sheriff says one of his deputies was "driving like an idiot" before crashing a patrol cruiser into a pond at 92 mph — with no emergency call to justify the speed.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood did not hold back when describing the incident.
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The deputy lost control of his SUV on a highway ramp near Interstate 95 and plunged into a retention pond.
Dashcam footage captured the cruiser leaving the roadway and entering the water. The sheriff's office confirmed the deputy was traveling 92 mph at the time of the crash.
When asked what the deputy was responding to, Chitwood's answer was blunt: "Nothing."
No Injuries, But a Total Loss
Neither the deputy nor his K-9 partner suffered serious injuries. The patrol vehicle, however, was declared a total loss, costing taxpayers approximately $73,000.
Chitwood said the deputy's actions could have ended in tragedy. "You caused $73,000 worth of damage," he told the deputy.
"You could have killed yourself. You could have killed your partner.
You could have killed anybody that was out there on the roadway."
The deputy has been removed from specialized assignments, including SWAT and K-9 units, while an internal investigation continues.
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Additional disciplinary action remains possible.
New Speed-Tracking Measures
The crash is prompting a policy change.
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is developing a reporting system that will regularly track deputies' driving speeds and provide that information to supervisors.
If a deputy is caught speeding without a legitimate emergency or valid justification, they will be expected to explain their actions.
Failure to do so will result in disciplinary measures.
"It's unfortunate that we have to do this with professionals," Chitwood said. "But, if you don't act professional, then I'm going to have to make you act professional."
Police agencies have increasingly adopted technology to track the public, often sparking debates over privacy.
Tracking government employees operating publicly funded vehicles on public roads is a different matter.
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The system aims to reinforce the idea that those who enforce traffic laws are expected to follow them as well.
