Justin Case
05-06-2010, 10:40 AM
Embroiled cop in trouble again for parking in handicapped spot
By LYDA LONGA, STAFF WRITER
May 6, 2010 12:05 AM 45 Comments 0 Votes Posted in: East Volusia Tagged: Major Garvin
Garvin
DAYTONA BEACH -- First, it was free specialty coffee from Starbucks; then it was the special parking space at Disney.
Once again, Daytona Beach Lt. Major Garvin is in hot water.
This time the longtime cop literally used his badge as a shield of entitlement so he could park in a handicapped space at Disney's Wide World of Sports, an angry Police Chief Mike Chitwood said Wednesday.
The lieutenant was just rehired earlier this year after he was initially fired for his escapades at a local Starbucks while on duty.
This time, however, there are pictures.
A man named John Andrea who went to the Wide World of Sports complex on Sunday spotted the blue unmarked police car in a handicapped parking space.
Andrea knew the car belonged to Garvin because the lieutenant placed his picture identification card and badge on the dashboard. Andrea took pictures of the violation and sent them to Chitwood on Monday morning. The photographs were accompanied by a short complaint.
"Certainly, this lieutenant would know the law as it pertains to handicap parking," the complainant wrote. "I understand that parking up close would have been nice for all of us ... but to use a city vehicle ... and then place your Police credentials on the dash to circumvent the law, is unexcusable!"
Garvin had an explanation, Chitwood said. The lieutenant told the chief that he was late for a basketball tournament he was refereeing at the facility. He said a security officer at the complex told him he could park in the handicapped space.
"Yeah, I'm sure the security officer told him he could break the law," Chitwood said. "That's just arrogant."
The chief said Garvin not only violated the state's handicapped parking statute, but also the Police Department's policy on take-home cars.
As of today, Garvin's take home car is no more, Chitwood said. He is also under investigation for the Wide World of Sports parking incident.
"No more take-home car," Chitwood said. "He works a desk job."
Adding insult to injury, Chitwood can't compel Osceola County -- the park is in Osceola -- to give Garvin a fine.
"This is private property, and only the owner can ask that the person be given a ticket," Chitwood said. "Disney is not about to ask that Garvin be given a ticket."
Garvin was fired in July 2008 after two Starbucks employees filed a complaint, saying he demanded free specialty coffee and threatened a slower police response time to the Ocean Walk Shoppes store if employees didn't supply him with the pricey brew.
The workers also complained Garvin parked his police bicycle inside the business and became angry after one of the workers told him to take it outside.
The lieutenant, however, insisted on taking a polygraph test at the Police Department. But he failed it, Chitwood said, because he lied on two of the questions. At the time, both Chitwood and Deputy Chief Ben Walton said the lying was the most egregious factor in the case.
Garvin, who had worked at the agency for 15 years, was brought back after an arbitrator ordered that he be rehired.
These days Garvin sits at a desk overseeing special events planning, animal control and Citizens On Patrol, the chief said.
http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2010/05/06/embroiled-cop-in-trouble-again-for-parking-in-handicapped-spot.html
He did not return a message left Wednesday.
By LYDA LONGA, STAFF WRITER
May 6, 2010 12:05 AM 45 Comments 0 Votes Posted in: East Volusia Tagged: Major Garvin
Garvin
DAYTONA BEACH -- First, it was free specialty coffee from Starbucks; then it was the special parking space at Disney.
Once again, Daytona Beach Lt. Major Garvin is in hot water.
This time the longtime cop literally used his badge as a shield of entitlement so he could park in a handicapped space at Disney's Wide World of Sports, an angry Police Chief Mike Chitwood said Wednesday.
The lieutenant was just rehired earlier this year after he was initially fired for his escapades at a local Starbucks while on duty.
This time, however, there are pictures.
A man named John Andrea who went to the Wide World of Sports complex on Sunday spotted the blue unmarked police car in a handicapped parking space.
Andrea knew the car belonged to Garvin because the lieutenant placed his picture identification card and badge on the dashboard. Andrea took pictures of the violation and sent them to Chitwood on Monday morning. The photographs were accompanied by a short complaint.
"Certainly, this lieutenant would know the law as it pertains to handicap parking," the complainant wrote. "I understand that parking up close would have been nice for all of us ... but to use a city vehicle ... and then place your Police credentials on the dash to circumvent the law, is unexcusable!"
Garvin had an explanation, Chitwood said. The lieutenant told the chief that he was late for a basketball tournament he was refereeing at the facility. He said a security officer at the complex told him he could park in the handicapped space.
"Yeah, I'm sure the security officer told him he could break the law," Chitwood said. "That's just arrogant."
The chief said Garvin not only violated the state's handicapped parking statute, but also the Police Department's policy on take-home cars.
As of today, Garvin's take home car is no more, Chitwood said. He is also under investigation for the Wide World of Sports parking incident.
"No more take-home car," Chitwood said. "He works a desk job."
Adding insult to injury, Chitwood can't compel Osceola County -- the park is in Osceola -- to give Garvin a fine.
"This is private property, and only the owner can ask that the person be given a ticket," Chitwood said. "Disney is not about to ask that Garvin be given a ticket."
Garvin was fired in July 2008 after two Starbucks employees filed a complaint, saying he demanded free specialty coffee and threatened a slower police response time to the Ocean Walk Shoppes store if employees didn't supply him with the pricey brew.
The workers also complained Garvin parked his police bicycle inside the business and became angry after one of the workers told him to take it outside.
The lieutenant, however, insisted on taking a polygraph test at the Police Department. But he failed it, Chitwood said, because he lied on two of the questions. At the time, both Chitwood and Deputy Chief Ben Walton said the lying was the most egregious factor in the case.
Garvin, who had worked at the agency for 15 years, was brought back after an arbitrator ordered that he be rehired.
These days Garvin sits at a desk overseeing special events planning, animal control and Citizens On Patrol, the chief said.
http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2010/05/06/embroiled-cop-in-trouble-again-for-parking-in-handicapped-spot.html
He did not return a message left Wednesday.