Charlotte County Sheriff's Office

Case Master Report MI-18-78

Date Initiated 10/31/2018

Warning
Contains entities exempt from disclosure

Primary Information
AGENCY: CHARLOTTE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

DIVISION: INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Lead LEO: Zakowich, Jason D (2141 / INTERNAL AFFAIRS / Charlotte County Sheriff's Office)

Type Of Case: MISCELLANOUS

Case Description: Citizen complaint Andrew Sheets Re: Jacob Hawkins tuition reimbursement

Case Status
Case Status: CLOSED

Case Status Date: 11/21/2018

Disposition Code: Exonerated

Disposition Date: 11/21/2018

Dissemination: System Wide

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 Charlotte County Sheriff's Office

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT MI-18-78

Report Date: 10/31/2018

Warning
Contains entities exempt from disclosure

Primary Information
Description: Citizen complaint Andrew Sheets Re: Jacob Hawkins tuition reimbursement

Reporting LEO: Zakowich, Jason D (2141 / INTERNAL AFFAIRS / Charlotte County Sheriff's Office)

Approval Status: Approved

Approved Date: 11/21/2018

Approved By: Zakowich, Jason D (2141 / INTERNAL AFFAIRS / Charlotte County Sheriff's Office)

Offenses
Offense Type Offense Attempted/Committed Statute UCR Class
GENERAL ORDER VIOLATION OF OFFICIAL PROCEDURES OR ALLEGED G.O. # 99
DIRECTIVES (NOT ENDANGERING PERSONS OR 3.50.F.4.b.3
PROPERTY)

Subject #1 - COMPLAINANT #1 - Sheets, Andrew Bryant

Primary Information

Subject Name: Sheets, Andrew Bryant

Record Type: PERSON

Bio: 53 yr. old, WHITE, MALE

Birth Date: 04/14/1965

Juvenile: NO

Relationship Information

Related Offense: COMPLAINANT of

Subject #2 - SUBJECT #1 - Davis, Ashton

Primary Information

Subject Name: Davis, Ashton

Record Type: PERSON

Bio: UNKNOWN, MALE

Juvenile: NO

Relationship Information

Related Offense: SUBJECT of

Subject #3 - SUBJECT #2 - Lamb, Noah

Primary Information

Subject Name: Lamb, Noah

Record Type: PERSON

Bio: WHITE, MALE

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 Charlotte County Sheriff's Office

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT MI-18-78

Report Date: 10/31/2018

Subject #3 - SUBJECT #2 - Lamb, Noah - Continued

Primary Information - Continued

Juvenile: NO

Relationship Information

Related Offense: SUBJECT of

Subject #4 - Subject Officer #1 - Hawkins, Jacob Tolbert

Primary Information

Exempt From Disclosure: YES

Subject Name: Hawkins, Jacob Tolbert

Record Type: LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL

Bio: 1 - Home, DO... WHITE, MALE

Birth Date: 1 - Home, DOB, other

Email: Jacob.Hawkins@ccso.org

Juvenile: NO

LEO ID: 2314

Relationship Information

Related Offense: Subject Officer of

Narrative
On October 15, 2018, the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office Records Department received an email from
internalaffairscorruption@yahoo.com, in which Andrew Sheets of Copwatch asked the Internal Affairs Unit to investigate Detective
Jacob Hawkins. Sheets advised he received information Det. Hawkins was getting money from the Sheriff's Office and the Military
for college he attended, without notifying either one, thus potentially committing fraud and/or policy violations.

The record request information was forwarded to me by the Records Department, but due to new security measures of the public
record request database, I did not have access to see the full details of the complaint. I requested access and was able to view the
information on October 25, 2018. The information was reviewed with Captain Casarella and an investigation was initiated on October
31, 2018. A notification of investigation was mailed to Andrew Sheets.

On October 31, 2018 I made contact with Finance Director, Gio Orbe, who directed Finance member Susan Moskwa to obtain the
tuition documents of Jacob Hawkins. Orbe advised the Sheriff's Office records retention is 5 years, so there may not be any
documents prior to then. Orbe also advised when the Sheriff's Office provides payment for tuition, it goes directly to the school and
not to the individual Deputy. The Sheriff's Office only reimburses tuition expense, and does not cover any books or any other
occurred expenses.

Later in the day on October 31, 2018, Orbe advised they had obtained copies of the documents. Since financial invoice records are
retained longer in the database, they were able to obtain records of payments the Sheriff's Office made to a college, on Jacob
Hawkins' behalf. This document only had the total value of the payment and what college it was made to. Orbe was able to provide
documents with greater details of the tuition reimbursement, with the earliest dating back to December 29, 2012.

I reviewed all of the Sheriff's Office documents and determined there was one inconsistency in the payments made by the Sheriff's
Office. In December, 2012, tuition was paid in the amount of $2,427.36 for three classes at four credit hours each, however, the next
tuition paid by the Sheriff's Office in July, 2013 was for a total of $651.00 for two classes at four credits each. This tuition payment
was for an initial $571.00 at the request of Hodges University, but it did not cover an online exam fee, which the Sheriff's Office paid
later in the amount of $80.00. The difference in the payments was the result of the college contacting the Sheriff's Office and
advising they received partial payment from a Pell Grant and Veterans Scholarships, leaving only the $651.00 to be paid by the
Sheriff's Office.

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 Charlotte County Sheriff's Office

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT MI-18-78

Report Date: 10/31/2018

Narrative - Continued
also noted between the same period of December, 2012, and July, 2013, the Sheriff's Office did update the college tuition request
form to include the verbiage,
I understand that tuition payments will only be paid by the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office after any Federal or State grant awards
are credited towards the tuition due. It will be my responsibility to notify the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office of any Scholarships
and/or Grants I am awarded.
This change was made to the form after December, 2012, but before July, 2013.

I reviewed the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office Career Development Educational Incentive policy – G.O. 4.01, regarding college
tuition reimbursement during the timeframe Det. Hawkins was receiving tuition reimbursement from the Sheriff's Office. The policy
was updated March 12, 2013 to include section D.3.g:

At no time should employees request reimbursement for educational expenses that will be paid by another source, such as a
grant or scholarship that will not entail a financial liability to the employee. For example, if the employee is receiving any kind of
scholarship, Hope Grant, Hope Scholarship, Pell Grant, GI Bill, or other financial aid, which will never have to be repaid, then the
employee should not seek reimbursement for that portion of his/her education expenses. This program is intended to reimburse
employees for education expenses they have paid or will pay out of pocket.

The policy did not contain any such verbiage prior to this change.

On November 1, 2018, I spoke with Hodges University Veteran Services Advisor Ashton Davis on the telephone. He advised the
current financial process at the University is to see if any other entity or corporation is going to pay a portion of the tuition first, then
they bill the VA for any remaining expenses. This is the normal process at the university, since it allows the student to retain more of
their VA benefits for other use, or allows the benefits to last longer. The post 911 GI scholarships are benefits granted towards
veterans and can be used by the veteran as needed. The benefits do not specifically apply to tuition and may be used by the veteran
for other expenses.

I advised Davis the current Sheriff's Office policy is to allow any grants or scholarships to pay the tuition first, then the Sheriff's
Office will pay the remainder. He indicated this was a possibility and he was not familiar with how the tuition was handled in
2012/2013, nor did he have the ability to pull up the tuition records. He referred me to Student Finance Services. I attempted to
obtain the information, but the employee who could assist, Noah Lamb, was out of the office until Monday, November 5.

I was able to schedule an appointment and meet with Noah Lamb on November 16, 2018. I explained the investigation to him and
requested any tuition documents for Jacob Hawkins for the entire time he attended the University. Lamb was able to pull up the
document, allow me to review it with him, and he was able to explain it to me, but he would not allow me to have a copy without a
subpoena.

While reviewing the Hodges University Tuition document, it was observed prior to 2013 Jacob Hawkins received tuition assistance
from the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Pell Grant, and Post 911 GI Scholarship. The Sheriff's Office funds were applied to the
tuition and the Pell Grant / Post 911 GI Scholarship paid any remaining tuition balance, exam fees, and any other remaining
expenses. The excess funding received from the Pell Grant and Post 911 GI Scholarship was then disbursed to Jacob Hawkins.
Lamb advised it is normal for any Pell Grant or Post 911 GI Scholarship funding in excess of the tuition to be disbursed back to the
student. The Pell Grant and Post 911 GI Scholarship do not specifically apply to tuition only, could be used for any additional
external expenses such as books, labs, etc., and would not be required to be given back.

In accordance with the 2013 change in the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office policy and update to the college tuition reimbursement
request form, Hodges University applied the Pell Grant and Post 911 GI Scholarship first, then billed the Sheriff's Office the
remaining amount. Jacob Hawkins only received an $80 disbursement for an online exam fee which was originally paid for by the
Pell Grant / Post 911 GI Scholarship, but the Sheriff's Office later paid for due to a discrepancy with the billing by the University.

Based on the investigation it was determined Jacob Hawkins was having the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Pell Grant, and Post
911 GI Scholarship funding applied for each semester he attended college at Hodges University. Prior to 2013, the funding from the
Sheriff's Office was being applied first, then the Pell Grant and Post 911 GI Scholarship. Any excess funding from the Pell Grant and
Post 911 GI Scholarship was disbursed back to Jacob Hawkins. The method of financial disbursement is common practice, and not
a violation of law or the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office Policies and Procedures at the time. After the change in the Charlotte
County Sheriff's Office Policies and Procedures in 2013, the order in which the funding was applied to the tuition was adhered to,
therefore no violation of the policies or procedures was committed.

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 Charlotte County Sheriff's Office

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT MI-18-78

Report Date: 10/31/2018

Narrative - Continued

This case is closed exonerated.

Record Status Information

Record Origination Operator: Zakowich, Jason D (2141 / INTERNAL AFFAIRS / Charlotte County Sheriff's Office)

Record Origination Date: 10/31/2018 09:20

Last Update Operator: Zakowich, Jason D (2141 / INTERNAL AFFAIRS / Charlotte County Sheriff's Office)

Last Update Date: 11/21/2018 12:48

Reporting LEO Date Supervisor Date

Zakowich, Jason D (2141 / INTERNAL Zakowich, Jason D (2141 / INTERNAL
AFFAIRS / Charlotte County Sheriff's 12/4/2018 AFFAIRS / Charlotte County Sheriff's 12/4/2018
Office) Office)

12/04/2018 13:14:41 Page 4 of 4

 Redaction Date: Tuesday, December 04, 2018 2:23:35 PM

Total Number of Redactions: 2

By Exemption:

"Law Enforcement Officer, prosecutors, other professions and occupations: home address,
telephone numbers, photographs, dates of birth, places of employment of the spouses and
children of such personnel; and the names and locations of schools and daycare facilities
attended by the children of such personnel. f.s. 119.071(4)d" (Home, DOB, other): 2
instances

By Page:

Page 3 - "Law Enforcement Officer, prosecutors, other professions and occupations: home
address, telephone numbers, photographs, dates of birth, places of employment of the
spouses and children of such personnel; and the names and locations of schools and
daycare facilities attended by the children of such personnel. f.s. 119.071(4)d" (Home, DOB,
other): 2 instances