st. tammany parish sheriff`s office employee counseling form

ST. TAMMANY PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE
EMPLOYEE COUNSELING FORM
Employse Name:
Rank:
Sean Beavers
Sergeant
Division:
D,epattment:
Criminal Patrol
Date ot lncident:
District
II
Time of lncident:
June 1,2015
Reason for coungeling:
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ExcEssMEABsENcEs oR r"ATENEss
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REFUSALToPERFoRMASSTcNEDWoRK
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orsRuprve woRK BEHAVIoR
couplrmenr
(seedetails below)
uNsATrsFAcroRywoRKpERFoRMANcE
Reason for counseling:
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wARNTNG
E oscrnnce
susPENsroN
E conueHoRlol
OTHER (See details below)
Nature of incident:
Please describe in a complete but concise rnanner, exactly what belravior the deputy dbplayed whictr caus€d this counseling form
to be issued. Please provicle all relevant infomation, including names and dates.
Internal Affairs was advised of an ineident that occurred on May 24, 2015,
irwalving Sergeant Beavers. According to a post on Facebooh Sergeant Besvers was stopped in
his personal vehicle by a Louisiana State Police Trooper. The media post alleged that Sergeant
Beavers had been drinking and driving and that a verbal altercation had ensued during the stop.
Subsequently, an iwestigationwas initiated on Sergeant Beavers.
On June
1,
20i15,
The complainant was interviewed and numerous other employees were summoned to Internal
Affairs to be interttiewed as well. In addition, Trooper Matthew Grahamwas interniewed by
LSP. The interview was witnessed by Captain Snell and Lt. Vitter of the STPSO Internal Affairs
department. Numerous statements were taken and an exhaustive investigationwas conducted.
As a result of these intervians it was discovered that:
c
Sergeant Beaver was stopped by Trooper Grahan on initiated a trffic stop on Mry 24,
2075, at 0200 hours on IIwy. 25, just north of Hwy. 190 in a personal vehicle.
o
The
o
Trooper Graham smelled an odor of an alcoholic beverage on Sergeant Beaver's breath.
o
(Jpon receiving Sergeant Beaver's identiJication and credentials, Trooper Graham made
the decision to call a STPSO supemisor to the scene.
o
Sergeant Chawin and several other STPSO Deputies responded to the scene. Trooper
Giham advised Sergeant Chawin the details of the trafrc stop and subsequently turned
the investigotion over to Sergeant Chauvin.
probable cause of the stopwasfor irnproper lane usage.
o Sergeant Chawin
determined that Sergeant Beavers was not intoxicated. Sergeant
Chawin could smell an alcoholic beverage on Sergeant Beaver's breath and Sergeant
Beavers admitted to consuming alcohol earlier in the evening; therefore, Sergeant
Chauvin made the decisionfor Sergeant Beaver not to drive.
o At approximately
Sergeant Beavers
to
of
dttty Deputy arrived at the scene and transported
his home in the vehicle Sergeant Beavers was driving.
0300 hours, an
Sergeant Beners was intertiewed by Internal Affairs concerning this incident. During the
interview Sergeant Beavers admitted to thefollowing:
t
He had consumed several alcoholic beverages earlier in the evening; however, he denied
he was legally intoxicated.
o
He was attempting to drive while using his cellphone causing him to drive improperly.
o
He made a bad decision to drive while under the influence.
Sergeant Beaver's actions are in direct violation of the Employee Conduct Policy as outlined in
DR.03:08.000 of the STPSO Policy and Procedure Manual:
A. Members
of the STP,SO slall conduct themselves at all times, both on and otf duty, in such
a manner as to reflect mostfavorably on the Agency. Unbecoming conduct shall include
thqt which brings the Agency into disrepute or reflects discredit upon the individual as a
member of the STPSO, or that which impairs the operation or fficiency of the STPSO or
the individual.
Gorrective action to be taken:
What steps will employee to take to consct thsir inappropriate work behavior?
Group 3, DR.03:09.955.il f, TaHng any actionwhichwill impair the efficiency or reputation
the Agency, its members or employees
of
In accordance with this Policy, and due to the nature of these violations, Sergeant Beavers will
be suspended without pay from the STPSO for a period of 4A hours. Sergeant Beavers will
review the Employee Conduct Policy and is expected to adhere to the policy at all times.
Anyfuture disciptinary actions may result in terminationfrom employment with the STPSO.
Employee's comments:
,SL$
I agree with the aclion taken
br the following reason(s):
E
t
disagree with the action taken for the following reason(s):
n advised
of the following rights:
o
r
o
o
A written record of reprimand/counseling shall be maintained.
I have the right to review the record and respond in writing.
The form shall become a part 9f my personnel file.
I am required to acknowledge this report by signing below.
The above offense(s) or commendatlon has been noted and are made a part of the above deputy's
perconnel file as of this date.
4V,
Prior counseling record:
DATE:-
COUNSELING ACTION
DATE:-
COUNSELING ACTION
ORIGIML TO HUMAN RESOURCES
r
COPY TO EMPLOYEE
r
COPY TO SUPERVISOR
STPSO
701 N. Columbia
St
P. O. Box 1120
Coi,ingbn, tA 7043t
PtlorE: 985492{181 Fax SBSB9&2S02
Highway 25, Covington, La.
2015-071329
Law Enforcement Code of Ethics
(DR.03:08.100)
Snell, Joseph (Capt.)
Printed: June 29, 2015
Employee Alleqations
Beavers, Sean
L.
Law Enforcement Code of Ethics
TotalAllegations:
_
DR.O3:0g.100
Substantiated/
1
lnvolved People
Assisting
Officer
Supervisor
Other
Assisting
Bode,
Terry
W/M I t
300 Brownswitch Rd Stideil
Graham, Matthew
2600 North Causeway Bv
Phillips, Christopher
300 Brownswitch Rd Slidell
WM II
Sharp, Jed
300 Brownswitch Rd Stidelt
WlM II
White, Troy
300 Brownswitch Rd Stidell
W/M II
Officer
Assisting
Slidell
Chauvin, Daniel
Officer
Assisting
300 Brownswitch Rd
Officer
Mandeville
W/M II
W/M t I
TotalPersons: 6
Case Notes
On.06-01-2015 Major Sterling Hebert advised lnternalAffairs of an incident that
occurred on 05-24-2015. The
incident involved an employee identified as sergeant sean Beavers, being
stopped while driving his personal vehicle
by a Louisiana State Police Trooper. The stop dccuned at 0226 Hrs. on H*y.
,6 in covington and there were social
media posts (Face Book) alleging that Sergeant Beavers had been drinking
and driving and that a verbal altercation
had ensued during the stop.
lnternal Afflirs
999"n investigating the lncident on 06-01-2015. Ttre investigation consisted of the following St.
Tammany Sheriffs oTry DeRuties being intervrew_ed; sergeant Daniel
Ch;wfi, o"p"tv Jed sharp, Deputy Troy
white, Dgoutv Terry Bode,
Christopher
Phillips,
Riserve
Sergeant
carl'eayliilnd sergeant sean Beavers.
P"?utv
Also obtained were audio telephone
calls made to si. iammanv srreiint ofl#;d;;bh and c.A.D. documentation
of the event taking place.
Page 1 of3
on 06-17-2016, Captain Joe Snell and Lieutenant Lance Vitter relocated to the Louisiana State police Headquarters
in Baton Rouge where both Captain Snell and Lieutenant Vitter witnessed an lnternal Affairs interview of Trooper
Matthew Graham conducted by LSP l/A. Captain Snell and Lieutenant Vitter also viewed a dash cam video
of the
incident at hand.
After reviewing all documents, videos, recordings and stiatements received during the investigation the following was
learned.
On 05-23-2015, sometime around 2100 Hrs. Sergeant Sean Beavers left his residence alone and drove his personal
vehicle to a club in Covington identified as "Rock N Blues". While at the club Sergeant Beavers consumed several
alcoholic beverages with the last one being slightly after midnight. Sergeant Beariers left the club alone around 0200
Hrs' on the 24th. and did.not mlke any stops prior to being stoppeO on Hwy, 25 just north of Hwy. 190 in Covington.
-Granim.
The traffic stop was conducted by Louisiana State Police Trooper Matthew
After coming into personalcontact with Sergeant Beavers, Trooper Graham smelled an odor of an alcoholic beverage on Beaver's breath. While
Trooper Graham was interviewing and speaking with Beave/s, Beave/s presented Trooper Graham his
identification/credentials. Upon Trooper Graham identifying Beaveds as an employee of ine St. Tammany Sheriffs
Otfice, Trooper Graham made the decision to have a Sneiiffs Office supervisor contacted and for them t6 come to
the scene.
!9yera!Deputies along with a supervisor responded to the scene. Upon arriving on the scene, St. Tammany Sheriffs
Offige Sergeant Daniel Chauvin was advised of the details involving ihe traffic Jtop. Once Sergeant Chauvin was
briefed of the incident and it was decided that Sergeant Chauvin would handle the incident, Tr6oper Graham
departed the scene.
After interviewing and speaking with Sergeant Beave/s, it was determined by Sergeant Chauvin that Beaver,s was
not legally intoxicated.. But since Sergeant Chauvin did smell a alcoholic beverage odor on Sergeant Beave/s breath
and Beaver's admitted to consuming several alcoholic beverages earlier in the evening, SergeJnt Chauvin made the
decision for Sergeant Beaver's not to drive.
Sometime around 0300.Hrs.
Peputy Christopher Phillips anived on the location of the traffic stop and drove Sergeant
Beavefs home in the vehicle Beaveds was driving.
At the conclusion of the internal investigation, there was no evidence or documentation found that would substantiate
the fact that Sergeant Beaver's was driving while legally intoxicated. Even though the probable cause for the traffic
stop was noted as "improper lane usage" Beave/s did not deny the accusation, but stated the reason he could have
drove a little improper was because he was attempting to drive while using his cell phone/l-Pad.
Sergeant Beaveds did admit to consuming several alcoholic beverages and eyen though Beaver's stated that he did
not feel he was legally intoxicated, he did state he felt he made a bad decision to drive while under the influence.
This internal investigation does find that Sergeant Beave/s conduct was unbecoming. DR.03:08.000 states that
members of the STPSO shall conduct themselves at all times, both on and off duty, in such a manner as to reflect
most favorably on the Agency. Unbecoming conduct shall include that which bring-s the Agency into disrepute or
refle_€discredit upon the individual as a member of the STPSO, or that which impairs the operation or eificiency of
the STPSO or the individual.
Sergeant Beaver's did not conduct himself while off duty in a manner as to reflect favorably on the agency. Sergeant
Beave/s conduct reflected discredit upon not only himself as a member of the STPSO but also to tha STPSO iiself.
As of 06-23-2015, this investigation is officially ctosed.
Captain J. Snell
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Signatue:
Ranievued by:
Approv'ed by:
D'ru,:
,/-,4-7olf
o*'W
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