Mexico Beach Police Department Under Investigation

Mexico Beach Police Department Under Investigation

MEXICO BEACH, FL- Bay County Sheriff's officials and FDLE agents are investigating possible misconduct allegations within the Mexico Beach Police Department. A Mexico Beach volunteer firefighter claims he's one of the people who filed the complaint.

Daniel Christopher says he reported Mexico Beach police officer Jesse Burkett for verbal and physical abuse. Christopher said, "I've never had a problem with this officer up until last year. I've never seen him like this."

As a volunteer firefighter for Mexico Beach, Daniel Christopher knows a lot of police officers. The fire station and police department are housed in the same building. And there's where the problems allegedly started. Christopher claims officer Burkett got physical with Christopher's 15 year old son.

"Chief told him to go sit in the office and watch t.v. When my son done what the chief told him to do officer Jesse Burkett grab my son and forcefully pushed him out the door. Stating he didn't give an "F" who told him to be in there," Christopher said.

Christopher claims Burkett has also been verbally abusive to him and others. "I can't give names but there are multiple people within this department that has issues with this officer."

Mayor Al Cathey called for an internal investigation during Tuesday's council meeting. He would not give details about the allegations but did say he wants to get to the bottom of things.

Cathey said, "We're concerned for the integrity of our city, the services we offer, and the people that get a paycheck from the city of Mexico Beach. So obviously when you have these types of investigations going on we felt like it was just imperative that we do an internal investigation to get all the facts, and if we have to deal with certain things then we'll deal with them."

Bay County Sheriff's officials would not comment on the on going investigation. Mexico Beach Police chief Brad Hall is on medical leave and was not available to comment. Cathey says he thinks the investigation could possibly take two weeks