The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has charged a Sanford
Police officer with battery and issued an affidavit for his arrest. Sanford
Police Public Information Officer Sgt. David Morgenstern said an investigation
was conducted by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and is currently being
reviewed by the State Attorney’s Office. Ofc. Robert Shull is charged with
battery.
A subsequent Sanford Police Department internal investigation into the actions of Shull will follow the outcome of the criminal aspect of the incident, said Morgenstern. In the interim, Shull will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of both investigations.
Interim Police Chief Richard Myers said, “When officers take the oath of office, they are committing to a social contract with the community, and must live up to the moral and ethical expectations that accompany that contract. We will balance the rights of an accused to be treated with due process and the constitutional mandate of innocence until proven guilty against the police obligation to hold officers accountable to their sacred oath. If we are to earn and sustain the public’s trust, it must start with how we police ourselves. We owe it to the good men and women who serve with honor everyday to show no tolerance for lawlessness or incompetence.”
A subsequent Sanford Police Department internal investigation into the actions of Shull will follow the outcome of the criminal aspect of the incident, said Morgenstern. In the interim, Shull will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of both investigations.
Interim Police Chief Richard Myers said, “When officers take the oath of office, they are committing to a social contract with the community, and must live up to the moral and ethical expectations that accompany that contract. We will balance the rights of an accused to be treated with due process and the constitutional mandate of innocence until proven guilty against the police obligation to hold officers accountable to their sacred oath. If we are to earn and sustain the public’s trust, it must start with how we police ourselves. We owe it to the good men and women who serve with honor everyday to show no tolerance for lawlessness or incompetence.”