Two Manatee County Sheriff’s Detectives Resign After Misconduct at Conference

Two buddy cops grab a twelve pack of beer and a little whiskey, while attending a law enforcement conference. It’s about dinner time, they’ve already had one or a bunch, and plan on having a few more over their meal. Now that dinner is over and the pre-dinner drinks have long been forgotten, it’s time for a whiskey dessert. Turns out, that dessert was a little too strong for officers Travis Allison and Peter Brooks.

Travis Allison’s bar rage.

Travis Allison began his tenure at the apartment August 2010. On August 4th, 2014 around 12:45am,  the local Sheriff’s office was called about a suspicious person at Aqua Grill, off 950 sawgrass Village Dr. in Ponte Verde Beach, FL. The highly intoxicated Allison had decided it was time to get into a bar fight and struck another patron; at a bar full of cops no less. Inspector Sgt. Marc Holden reported the entire incident. Allison was “asked” to leave the bar, when he thought the parking lot would be a good venue for his next brawl. Allison was eventually detained in a patrol vehicle, upon learning he was law enforcement, officers escorted him back to his room. Not to end his night early, Allison was later stopped by a security officer; Allison had planned on driving home.

Detective Allison is no long allowed to attend the Florida Gang Investigators Association conference as he was cited for “conduct unbecoming a deputy.” He soon submitted his resignation to Sheriff Brad Steube, ending his term on the force on Sept. 11.

Brooks mistaken hotel room.

While Peter Brooks didn’t cause much of a scene at the bar, he more than made up for it at his hotel. The Detective forcefully entered a hotel room, he believed was his, but was in fact Field Agent Joan Livingston. She was awoken by a person violently pounding on her door, after the key card had failed. FDLE Bureau Chief Glen Hopkins was also woken up to the sounds of violent door beating. Brooks was hospitalized for a head injury. He too is barred from attending the conference. For fear of an internal investigation, Brooks tried to convince hotel security not to report what happened to the department, to no avail.

In his letter to Steube, dated Sept. 9th, Brooks used personal reasons for resigning.

Neither men remember the events from the night of the conference.

Florida Police Internal Investigations

In Florida, law enforcement, to include correctional officers, have a bill of rights. Under these, even during an investigation, officers are afforded the same rights as everyone else. Interviews are to be held at reasonable hours, everything will be recorded and there must be notice.

The Florida Internal Affairs Investigators Association is working hard to develop a standard for police internal investigations. They are seeking cooperation between all the departments in the state of Florida. They are active in maintaining Law enforcement officers rights. The FIAIA is dedicated to providing a forum to discuss open recent court decisions. Be sure to check out the the FIAIA website for further information. http://www.fiaia.org/mission.html

Standing by your side.

Standing in court, looking at an admin board with your career on the line is a nightmare for anyone. Our attorney’s will stand by you when it seems the world is against  you. If you find yourself staring at your superiors, with your career in their hands, give us a call so we can discuss your case.