West Palm officers in steroid probe suspended

[Junkyard Dog]

West Palm officers in steroid probe suspended
By Andrew Marra

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Thirteen West Palm Beach police officers who bought prescription steroids from a Deerfield Beach pharmacy under federal investigation have been hit with four to 10 days of suspension as punishment, according to a police union official.

Police Chief Delsa Bush decided last week to dole out suspensions to the officers, all of whom can appeal her decision, said Ernie George, president of the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association.

George said some officers were told they would be suspended just four days while others received longer suspensions. One reported being hit with a 10-day suspension, he said.

It was not clear why some received longer suspensions than others. Police officials refused to comment on the disciplinary actions before the officers' appeal process has been completed.

The suspensions came after an internal affairs investigation found that the 13 officers bought anabolic steroids and human growth hormones from PowerMedica, a Deerfield Beach company that is currently under investigation by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

The company was raided by federal agents last February and later shut down. Investigators say the company doled out prescription steroids without requiring patients to see a doctor or undergo a full examination.

The police department's policies bar officers from using prescription drugs that were not properly prescribed.

The officers found to have violate department policy are: Lt. Jack Yates, Sgt. James Cink, and officers Steven Detter, Craig Davis, Kevin Harrell, Felix Leon, Dewitt McDonald, Sean Meyers, Joseph Myers, Daniel Panko, James Sniffen, Joseph Swiderski and Dennis Wrobbel.

The police union contends that the officers did nothing wrong because they did not realize the steroids were not being properly prescribed. George said the officers were told by PowerMedica employees that their prescriptions were being filled in the proper manner.

He said the union plans to contest the police department's disciplinary actions.

"They've done nothing wrong," George said. "Police officers are like everyone else. They're allowed to go to a doctor and get a prescription."

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office investigated four of its deputies in connection with the same federal PowerMedica probe. Two of the deputies were given a one-day suspension for failing to alert their supervisors that they were using prescription drugs, according to internal affairs Capt. Robert Van Reeth.

The sheriff's office declined to release the names of the officers, citing the FDA's ongoing federal investigation.