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INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
An Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office internal investigation revealed that a former School Resource Officer neglected his duties in actively participating with the Department of Children and Families in ongoing child abuse investigations.
The issue came to light after an Investigator with the OCSO began a criminal investigation at Kenwood Elementary School in May. She talked with numerous Child Protection investigators from the Department of Children and Families. Those discussions revealed a lack of confidence in the school’s SRO. They outlined a repeated reluctance to assist and participate in multiple ongoing child abuse investigations undertaken by DCF. They indicated they would have to conduct these investigations alone.
As a result of these concerns the OCSO initiated an internal investigation into the matter on May 26th, 2017 and is releasing the findings that substantiated a failure by former SRO Dwayne Vasiloff to adequately perform his duties in assisting the Department of Children and Families (DCF) with other unrelated child abuse investigations that arose at Kenwood.
At this time, the State Attorney’s Office has received and reviewed the OCSO internal investigation into this matter and has determined that the incident and findings have no bearing on their ongoing criminal investigation in the Marlynn Stillions case.
A review of the SRO’s Case Management Records indicated he wrote seven initial child abuse reports between August 2016 and June 2017, compared to the more than 46 investigative visits at Kenwood Elementary documented by DCF investigators.
The OCSO internal investigation determined that the SRO had neglected his duty. It sustained allegations of unsatisfactory performance and not obeying rules. The SRO denied any wrongdoing and stated his behavior was misinterpreted. He received a one year probation, two days suspension without pay, and reassignment to patrol division with direct supervision. He subsequently retired from the OCSO on July 20th, 2017 prior to finishing his probation.
“We want to emphasize that the complaints and internal investigation that resulted indicated the SRO was content to let DCF handle investigations and the resulting workload,” said Sheriff Larry Ashley. “I also want to acknowledge that the DCF investigators specifically mentioned that this behavior was in direct contrast to the typical support and assistance they receive from other OCSO SROs. I only wish these concerns were brought to our attention sooner. The safety of our children is one of our agencies and our communities’ top priorities and the reason we placed an SRO in every public school in Okaloosa County. We expect and demand a total commitment to that mission.”
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