Flomaton Police Investigating Officer Over Alleged Road-Rage Incident in Pensacola
Flomaton Police Chief Justin Hetrick says his department is investigating an officer accused of a road-rage incident in Pensacola after a formal complaint was filed this week.
The Flomaton Police Department is conducting a formal investigation into one of its officers after allegations surfaced that he was involved in a road-rage incident while driving a department cruiser in Pensacola, Florida, on Friday afternoon.
Flomaton Police Chief Justin Hetrick confirmed the investigation is under way, saying he first learned of the allegations through a phone call he received Friday afternoon, shortly after the incident is said to have occurred.
"I am aware of a recent social media post regarding allegations involving an officer with the Flomaton Police Department," Chief Hetrick said in a prepared statement. "This allegation will be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly to determine whether any department policies or procedures have been violated."
Complaint Formally Filed
According to Chief Hetrick, he spoke directly with the person who raised the complaint and walked them through the process for filing an official grievance against an officer. That process led to a formal complaint being submitted on Tuesday, the chief said Wednesday.
Details about what specifically occurred during the alleged road-rage encounter, including what actions the officer is accused of taking, have not been publicly released. The investigation is expected to determine whether the officer's conduct violated any Flomaton Police Department policies or procedures.
Department Response
Chief Hetrick emphasized that the department intends to handle the matter transparently and by the book.
"The Flomaton Police Department is committed to addressing all complaints fairly, and appropriately," he said.
Flomaton, a small town in Escambia County, Alabama, on the Alabama-Florida state line, has close ties with neighboring Pensacola, and it is not unusual for department vehicles and personnel to travel between the two areas. Internal affairs investigations such as this one typically involve a review of any available evidence, including witness statements and, where applicable, dash camera or body camera footage, before a department determines whether policy violations occurred and what discipline, if any, is warranted.
The Flomaton Police Department has not indicated a timeline for when the investigation is expected to conclude.
