Former FDLE officer of the year kills self after he’s accused of child porn
The following article is being shared for two reasons:
1- Again, it goes to show that anyone, even a police officer recognized for his work rescuing children, can be a sex offender, and
2- The recognition that the quality of life as a sex offender is not worth living.
JACKSONVILLE — Authorities say a decorated Florida police detective killed himself just before he was to be arrested on charges that he possessed child pornography.
The Florida Times-Union reports that Jacksonville sheriff’s Detective Vernon Richardson killed himself Tuesday, shortly after detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest.
The neighboring St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation in December after receiving a tip he had child porn on his computer. Detectives found an image of two adolescent boys having sex.
He was questioned Feb. 1 and denied looking at child porn. Investigators say his computer was seized and two photos of naked children were found.
Richardson was the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s local officer of the year in 2012 for his work finding missing children.
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I guess it save the tax payer some money. Really I wish could express some type of emotion other than bitterness but I feel the officer took the easy way out.
Seminole Ridge High School(loxahatchee FL) coach Keith Gruber, of Belle Glade, 36 arrested, accused of inappropriate relationship with former student 02/19/2019. This is the second teacher at that school in a 3 month period to be arrested for this
same thing happened to an officer in ft lauderdale in 2016 Sgt. Kreg
Costa, 43, called 911 at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, then pulled the trigger at his Sunrise home, less than eight hours after being released on bond for child porn charges. He died at a hospital at 11:30 p.m.
It unfortunately happens every day somewhere whether its a teacher/policeman/politician etc…
But he knew, better than most, what the consequences would be. He obviously did not want to be subjected to the craziness to follow that would affect him and his family for life…even though most of them are non-punitive (sarcasm, in case you missed it :))
I think we need to register EVERYONE. Because taking a more sensible approach such as being a parent and protecting your children does not seem to be an option. Let’s put the burden on others because we are to busy/lazy to know what our children are doing.
…I also see now that his entire identity may have been bound up with being a decorated officer and a protector and minister to children. You can see where a suicidal impulse might have been strong in such a person accused of such a thing.
This is devastating.
True, he would no longer be able to work in law enforcement or child protection. But hadn’t had enough time to realize that there’s more to life than that.
Suicide is a mental health issue. It is NOT the answer for having committed a sex crime.
He would have made it through this difficult phase, had he lived. FAC members are proof of that. Some are struggling, but they are NOT doing this.
Jacob, I agree. Life feels like it’s coming to an end when faced with losing everything. A good Christian friend reached out to me in my darkest moments and offered me a new life in Christ, where one’s identity is not wrapped up in position or performance, but is hinged on our identity being in Christ (Gal 2:20). It was the most free I’ve ever felt in my life.
I still had to walk through the valley of prosecution, incarceration, and supervision, but since that day I gave control over my life to the Lord, I’ve never looked back. It breaks my heart to think of what people miss out on when they lose the battle with despair.
Society simply doesn’t understand the dynamics of sexual offenses and offenders. If they did, they would (if only out of concern for their own sons and daughters potential future behavior) move away from this caustic approach toward one of restorative justice that seeks to heal the injury of sexual offense rather than seek retribution for it.