Police officer fired after internal investigation

Police officer HAREVY AYERS fired after internal investigation

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. -

A Punta Gorda police officer is out of a job after an internal affairs investigation determined he put a woman's life at risk. It's one of ten allegations against him.

Investigators say Corporal Harvey Ayers lacked judgment when he allowed a citizen to play cop during a traffic stop.

"This morning we served him with the notice," says Punta Gorda Police Chief Butch Arenal. For Chief Arenal it boils down to trust.

"We're big on professionalism and more importantly, as a city-wide philosophy, accountability and honesty," the chief explains.

After several of his own captains came to him with concerns about Ayers, the chief launched an investigation this June. He says the investigation got bigger and bigger.

"One thing leads to another, leads to another and, before you know it, we're evaluating a whole shift of duty."

One infraction comes from a ride along on May 28, 2012. The department lets civilians ride with officers to see how they work. However, the internal affairs report states Ayers not only let the woman riding with him carry a gun, but told her to draw her weapon at one point. This violates policy because she wasn't a certified law enforcement officer. "We have strict criteria on observer ride alongs," Chief Arenal points out. Ayers had been on paid administrative leave since mid-June. "Obviously this is not a happy time for anyone here. We'll work though it and work our way through his appeals process," Arenal says.

Harvey Ayers sordid history as police officer

From 1998 until 2003 Harvey Ayers was a sworn Desoto County Sheriff’s Deputy. Public Records obtained from that agency revealed:

Harvey Ayers was investigated for Sexual Assault and lewd behavior with a female student attending a domestic violence class where Harvey Ayers was the instructor; accused Ayers of forcing himself on her and masturbating and then ejaculating in his hand. “Reported to Sheriff… she was sexually battered by Deputy Ayers."

From 1998 until 2003 Harvey Ayers was a sworn Desoto County Sheriff’s Deputy. Public Records obtained from that agency revealed:

Harvey Ayers was reprimanded and ultimately suspended for losing his police issued .45 caliber firearm; while Ayers was on duty.

Harvey Ayers was investigated for the shooting death of a citizen and was later sued for wrongful death.

Harvey Ayers was reprimanded for permitting a County employee to drive home while intoxicated.

Harvey Ayers was accused of police brutality.

Harvey Ayers was disciplined for causing boldly harm to a citizen due to his negligence and carelessness.

Harvey Ayers resigned from Desoto County Sheriff’s Office on April 04, 2003.

____________________________________________________________

From 2003 until 2012 Harvey Ayers found employment as a sworn Punta Gorda Police Officer and Detective. Public records obtained from the Punta Gorda Police Department reveal that Harvey Ayers was the subject of nearly 40 Internal Affairs Investigations:

Harvey Ayers was found to be untruthful in at least three sustained violations for attempting to cover up his misconduct and allowing a civilian observer ride along to yield a firearm while participating in the search of a school and a vehicle, placing citizens, other officers and the observer in life threatening danger.

Harvey Ayers was reprimanded for conduct unbecoming of a Punta Gorda Police Officer for engaging in a Sexual Activity while on duty.

Harvey Ayers while on duty, allowed prisoner to escape due to his negligence, placing the community in danger.

Harvey Ayers; while laughing in the presence of witnesses, referred to a young mentally challenged boy as a “RETARD”, then attempted to defend and diminish his behavior.  

Harvey Ayers abused his authority by intimidating and coercing a citizen into destroying property that was not illegal.

  

Harvey Ayers intimidated a disabled veteran into allowing Ayers to perform an illegal search where no evidence that a crime had ever been committed.

Harvey Ayers was reprimanded for watching pornographic videos with a female co-worker, while on duty in a police cruiser.

Harvey Ayers conducted an illegal search and seizure resulting in the State Attorney’s Office dropping drug charges on a suspect.

Harvey Ayers illegally frisked a female civilian driver without her consent.

Harvey Ayers mishandled seized narcotics.

Harvey Ayers was investigated for illegal search and seizure and harassment of an African American female.

Harvey Ayers was required to attend a mandatory course in Bias and Base Profiling.

  

In August 2012,after many lengthy investigations of Harvey Ayers by  Punta Gorda Chief of Police Albert Arenal fired Harvey Ayers after a lengthy investigation into Ayer’s misconduct; including lying and being untruthful, which attracted local media attention;

Fox Channel 4 News, NBC News and the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

______________________________________________________________

Harvey Ayers was sued on at least 5 occasions in Federal and State Courts for violations of citizen’s civil rights:

-       Charles Lee Thomas v. Punta Gorda, Harvey Ayers (False Arrest without probable cause).

-       Anton Rashad Blandin vs. Charlotte County, Harvey Ayers (Police Brutality).

-       Scott Weinerth vs. Harvey Ayers, City of Punta Gorda (False Arrest).

-       Vierginia Artubel vs. Colonial Bank Group (Unlawful search and seizure, perjury, malicious prosecution).

-       Joshual L. Neal vs. Punta Gorda Police Department/Harvey Ayers, (Indifference to Police Brutality).

______________________________________________________________

Unbelievably, Harvey Ayers then brought his abusive, reckless, untruthful, harassing, bullying and intimidating tactics to Sarasota County, where he was hired as a code enforcement officer. Public records obtained from Sarasota County employment record reveal the following:

  

Harvey Ayers purposefully mislead relevant information pertinent to his termination from the City of Punta Gorda Police Department on his Sarasota County application for employment. Contained in this packet and also his employment file.

Harvey Ayers lied on his job application as to whether he had a traffic ticket in the past 5 years.

Sarasota County employment records indicate that officials obtained records from the Punta Gorda Police Department, thus, were aware of his sordid and dishonest history from public records they obtained, yet still hired Harvey Ayers from a pool of 8 candidates, even after they were fully aware of his lying and poor character.

Harvey Ayers upon being hired by Sarasota County, was required to sign the Ethics/Oath stating he would be truthful in his capacity with Sarasota County.

Harvey Ayers violated his ethical agreement as a Sarasota County employee: On December 15, 2017 at an Administrative Hearing in front of a Special Magistrate, Harvey Ayers lied and committed the crime of Perjury twice while under oath.