ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office employee, who posted a controversial comment on a social media site, has been demoted and reassigned within the department, according to a letter of reprimand and an internal affairs investigation report.
The sheriff’s office told News4JAX earlier this month that Cpl. Gregory Suchy was placed on administrative leave amid an investigation sparked by a comment posted on an Instagram video showing what appeared to be a homeless man throwing a rock at a vehicle.
The comment read: “We need like a 3-day open season on the homeless. No bag limit.”
SJSO confirmed Suchy posted that comment from his personal social media account.
News4JAX obtained Suchy’s letter of reprimand, which shows Suchy was reassigned to another unit and lost his corporal status.
The internal affairs report includes how Suchy was remorseful for posting the comment. It also quotes him as saying:
“I thought, you know, it would be something funny, but, you know, obviously I didn’t think about the reach of it and the context of it, that…They don’t know the work that I’ve done with the homeless or the work that I’ve done with the Sheriff’s Office.”
Sgt. Richard White of the Salvation Army is someone, who along with his organization, helps feed those experiencing homelessness in St. Johns County.
“That is disheartening,” White said.
White said the deputy’s comment surprised him because it’s not what he’s seen from that community, which comes out often to feed those in need.
“Anyone can find ourselves in a place where we may be without a home or in a tough spot and we would hope that there would be someone to come along that would lift us up and not lift us down,” White said.
The internal affairs investigation also included a section on why Suchy’s comment wasn’t protected by the First Amendment, citing two cases. One of them deals with public sector employees.
News4JAX Crime and Safety Analyst and former law enforcement agent Tom Hackney said what happened to Suchy shows the fine line public servants must follow. He also said it shows the public that Sheriff Rob Hardwick does not put up with nonsense.
“Due process works that when these types of things happen an investigation gets started, they take them seriously there’s repercussions for them,” Hackney said. “There’s teeth to when the sheriff talks about wanting to hold his people accountable.”
The sheriff’s office told News4JAX that Suchy’s comment is not a reflection of its mission to “serve with excellence.”
SJSO also shared with News4JAX some of the things they do to help those experiencing homelessness.
One of those things is its Outreach/Re-entry initiative which helps the unhoused population with housing, employment, and transportation.
The sheriff’s office also said there is a specialized team of deputies, in collaboration with community partners, who address mental health and substance abuse if applicable, and assist with family reunification by helping recruit a support system, which may consist of family, friends, or other resources.
SJSO said patrol deputies and police officers from other agencies who encounter people experiencing homelessness can contact the Outreach/Re-entry Team for immediate assistance or send a referral for non-urgent issues.