50¢ Friday/ Saturday Dec. 27-28, 2019 www.perrynewspapers.com Perry Police Department loses three officers: Sex, drugs and suicide claims are investigated The Perry Police prescription for a limited testosterone.” The internal investigation Department (PPD) has amount of time “two or Testosterone falls into a indicated that Cannon’s lost nearly an entire shift three years ago.” Both class of anabolic steroids alleged drug use, which also of officers in the wake officers stated they were that are illegal to possess included illegal steroids and of three separate internal administered the drugs by or use without a valid a number of prescription investigations stemming Cannon, “who they knew prescription under Florida ➟ Please see page 2 from a single officer’s had a prescription for Statutes. suicide attempt back in July. PPD K-9 Officer Chad Following internal investigation: Cannon was notified of his dismissal from the force on Wednesday, Dec. 18, following a lengthy and Two PPD officers step exhaustive internal affairs investigation. Two fellow officers, Sgt. Brian Curry and K-9 Officer down over steroid use Ricky Dice, submitted their resignations on Dec. 10 in Two longtime Perry Police Department (PPD) the wake of two separate officers resigned their positions earlier this month Chad Cannon investigations. after admitting under oath to receiving testosterone Cannon filed a lawsuit injections from a third officer voluntarily. against the city one day Sgt. Brian Curry, a 15-year police veteran, and after receiving notice of K-9 Ptl. Ricky Dice, a 10-year PPD employee both City did not his dismissal, seeking as a full-time and part-time/reserve patrol officer, protection under the state’s submitted their resignations the night before they “whistle-blower act” as well were scheduled to meet with PPD Chief Jamie as unspecified monetary Cruse regarding the findings of separate internal ‘deny, deflect damages (see related story). investigations regarding the alleged use of a controlled Cannon’s dismissal substance (testosterone). came after an internal The investigations concluded that allegations that investigation sustained both men were in possession and/or use of controlled or try to hide’ allegations regarding his substances (testosterone) in violation of Florida law illegal possession, use and were sustained, as neither had a prescription for the “It takes years to earn organization -- be they distribution of controlled drug at the time they received the injections. Brian Curry the public’s trust, but only elected, appointed or substances (including Both officers stated they received the testosterone a momentary lack of good employed -- needs to be the anabolic steroid from former PPD officer Chad Cannon during a time judgement to lose it,” City held to the highest ethical Testosterone Cypionate, they were working out together in the PPD gym. Manager Taylor Brown said standards,” Brown told a Schedule III controlled Curry stated that he “had only done it for a short this week in reference to Perry Newspapers on substance, which is a felony period of time, realizing that he had made a mistake the City of Perry’s decision Thursday. under Florida law) and and it was wrong. Sgt. Curry stated that Officer to terminate three police “The law is clear that detailed multiple instances Cannon had given him one shot a week for about two officers, two of which commission of a felony is of sexual conduct/contact or three months, and it was about two to three years resigned prior to being a disqualification for being while on duty with multiple ago,” the investigative report stated. dismissed. a police officer in Florida,” other persons, in violation Officer Dice stated that Cannon had given him “As city manager, Brown said. of the City of Perry’s one shot a week for four weeks during a time period my most important “All people make Standards of Conduct approximately two years ago. responsibility is to ensure mistakes, but there are and Ethics and Florida Both allegations came to light during an that the city government often consequences to those Administrative Code. investigation that was launched following Cannon’s earns and maintains the mistakes. Mature, ethical Curry and Dice, by their suicide attempt on July 8 (see related story). trust of its citizenry. To and professional people own admissions, stated they During that initial internal affairs investigation, accomplish this, everyone took what they thought to ➟ Please see page 2 ➟ Please see page 3 Ricky Dice associated with the be testosterone without a Claiming he was protected ‘whistle-blower’ and wrongfully terminated Cannon files lawsuit against city Former Perry Police after he reported “unlawful of criminal conduct controlled substances. misfeasance and/or gross This dismissal is a result Department (PPD) officer employment activities and against many fellow PPD Filed under Florida misconduct. of the findings of Internal Chad Cannon has filed suit criminal conduct.” officers and command Statute 112.3187, known In a letter dated Dec. Investigation 2019-3.” against the City of Perry In a seven-page complaint staff, including: racist/ as the “Whistle-blower’s 18, City Manager Taylor For “reference and seeking damages and other filed the evening of Dec. sexist conduct, sex on duty, Act,” Cannon claims he is Brown notified Cannon explanation,” Brown relief in excess of $30,000, 19 by Tallahassee attorney discrimination, harboring a member of a “protected he was being “dismissed/ attached a copy of the claiming he was a “protected Marie Mattox in Third a fugitive, driving under class” due to his submission terminated from conclusion from Cannon’s whistle-blower” who was Judicial Circuit Court, the influence, providing of a grievance reporting and employment with the City internal investigation (see retaliated against and Cannon outlines a long list alcohol to minors, sexual disclosing defendant’s (City of Perry with an effective ➟ Please see page 3 “wrongfully terminated” of claims and allegations battery and use of illegal or of Perry’s) malfeasance, date of Dec. 20, 2019. County businesses to see 9% Waste Pro hike The approximately 200 the county’s request for of Pemberton, Wambolt and businesses located in the proposals seeking a new County Building Director unincorporated area of the contract. Danny Griner. county using Waste Pro At the commission’s According to the for solid waste collection Monday, Dec. 9 meeting, committee’s report to the services will see an increase County Administrator commission, the rates in their bills beginning in LaWanda Pemberton and proposed by Waste Pro in 20 vie for President February of next year. Environmental Services its bid represent an increase Although the field of local candidates March 17, during which registered Waste Pro’s current Director Gary Wambolt told of approximately 9% over running in 2020 continues to grow, Democrats and Republicans will have contract with the Taylor the board that the bid review the current rates. the first election next year will be the County Commission is committee had examined According to the Presidential Preference Primary on ➟ Please see page 6 set to expire on Jan. 31, Waste Pro’s bid and found committee report, 2020, and the company was it to be in compliance. ➟ Please see page 3 the sole bidder to answer The committee consisted Index One section 130th Year, No. 52 Weather Looking Back ......... A-4 Entertainment ........ A-8 Friday 76˚ Saturday 75˚ Sunday 76˚ Religion .................. A-5 Sports .................... A-9 57˚ 61˚ 62˚ Community ............ A-7 Classifieds .......... A-11 20% 20% 20% A-2 Perry News-Herald December 27-28, 2019 Investigation ‘upheld’ allegations of drug use, sexual contact SEX, DRUGS protective custody on or Cannon “would draw up the tired and ready to go. He for amphetamines and “The allegations of sexual Continued from page 1 about May 22 as a result steroids in syringes and take said that we came and saved benzodiazepines. contact and/or conduct of contacting fellow law them to the guys and even him that night just to sling During his interview, while on duty are sustained. medications for which he enforcement officers, stating gave some of them shots.” his name through the mud Cannon admitted to having Probable cause exists to did not have prescriptions, he was depressed and She also indicated that now.” taken Adderall and Valium believe that Officer Cannon took place over a span of wanted to kill himself. Officer Dice quit taking Cannon also said he had during this time – neither of did engage in sexual activity several years. “He was placed under a steroids about one year ago previously threatened to kill which he had a prescription on duty in violation of All of this information Baker Act and transported and that Sgt. Curry quit himself multiple times and for, the report stated. He City of Perry Standards of came to light following an to Tallahassee to Capital around the beginning of that he “was in a hole.” said he obtained one of the Conduct and Ethics and the investigation conducted by Regional Behavioral Health 2019. He said he was plagued drugs from his wife and the PPD’s General Order (Acts the Florida Department of Center. During this time, he Cannon’s wife also by nightmares and “he did other from his girlfriend. of Misconduct)...however, Law Enforcement (FDLE) admitted to substance abuse referenced numerous not know how to sleep and According to statements he denied the allegations back in July when Cannon of alcohol and prescription extra-martial affairs he the nightmares got worse from Cannon’s wife, he and no physical evidence attempted to take his own drugs to several people,” the had allegedly engaged in, and he would stay up for 30 admitted to her that he had was obtained, thereby only life, shooting himself in report stated.