Pasco rogue cop's exit leaves questions over service

Pasco Deputy Sheriff Robert Scott Gattuso resigned from the department last week leaving unanswered questions about his 20-year tenure in law enforcement and his departure from the Sheriff's Office. The most notable question: What took so long?

Gattuso's lengthy disciplinary record, more than 30 complaints of wrong-doing over two decades and an open internal affairs investigation at the time of his resignation, is an embarrassment to the agency and to Sheriff Bob White, who failed to remove him from the public payroll despite:

• A work history that includes 13 substantiated violations of the code of professional standards including insubordination, failing to obey orders, conduct unbecoming an officer and inattention to duty.

• A 2003 no contest plea to misdemeanor charges of attempted forgery for cashing a $372 insurance check intended for his ex-wife.

• A 2005 Pinellas County case in which Gattuso and his brother were suspected of conspiring to dump Gattuso's Nissan Pathfinder into Lake Tarpon and report it stolen to avoid making payments. Records showed Pinellas deputies planned to charge Gattuso with filing a false police report, but prosecutors declined because incriminating statements from Gattuso's ex-wife were considered inconsistent and inadmissible.

The Pasco Sheriff's Office did not investigate the Pathfinder case, offering the implausible explanation that no legitimate questions were left unanswered. The criminal and internal affairs investigations surrounding the forgery case allowed Gattuso to take a paid leave of absence for more than a year, collect nearly $48,000 and receive two salary increases during his absence.

In the end, his paltry punishment was losing his vacation time, being demoted from detective to patrol and giving up the raises. Essentially, Gattuso traded 11 weeks vacation for a year off and returned to work at the same pay grade as when he left.

The disturbing lack of accountability finally concluded Oct. 1, during yet another unspecified investigation, when Gattuso resigned saying he planned to pursue "a better life outside the state of Florida.''

We suspect it also means a better life for the sheriff's internal affairs investigators, who spent far too much of their time investigating the unacceptable behavior of this rogue cop.

Comments on this article

by Jeff	Oct 14, 2008 4:37 PM
I read the archives under the name KIM BOGART. Wow, took all morning but what a mess. I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR KIM BOGART. BOB WHITE GETS MY VOTE. PLEASE INFORM YOURSELVES, READ THE ARCHIVES OF THIS SITE UNDER THE NAME KIM BOGART, 1987 TO 2001, WOW..

by James	Oct 14, 2008 7:41 AM
Bogart lied at the debate and Tom Jackson, Tampa Tribune, called him out. See the Tampa Tribune site under the Tom Jackson column. Bogart cannot be trusted, read about him in the times archives, Read and you won't believe. Start in 1987 to now.

by Bogartbad	Oct 14, 2008 7:40 AM
Bogart and his ten union supporters come on here an post negative about the Sheriff, over and over. Bogart is the one with the problem. Don't believe me, run his name, Kim Bogart under the archives of this site. Read from 1987 to present.

by David	Oct 13, 2008 11:53 AM
Remember this when the Sheriff and other Sheriff departments asked for a larger budget under the guise of more protection. Cut the waste first.

by Phil	Oct 13, 2008 11:53 AM
We need a respectable Sheriff's Office in Pasco County. Bob White needs to be held accountable-VOTE HIM OUT!

by junior	Oct 12, 2008 6:43 PM
Sheriff White will be served his walking papers come ELECTION DAY, Mr. Bogart is the right choice.

by jerks	Oct 12, 2008 6:00 PM
this town needs more rouge cops,,some with the knowlege to arrest ,and detect, and abilty to use them,, this cop had many yrs many arrests but all your gonna here is how bad he was,,cause thats how you cops think about how bad someone is not the good

by MIKE	Oct 12, 2008 12:29 PM
LET ME GET THIS RIGHT' WHITE SAYS CRIME IS LOW, BUT THE JAIL IS BERSTING AT THE SEAMS, WE HAVE TO BUILD MORE JAILS, WELL THAT TELLS ME CRIME IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH. IF THE JAILS WERE HALF FULL THAT TELLS ME CRIME IS VERY LOW, MAKES MORE SENSE. VOTE!!

by John	Oct 9, 2008 12:40 PM
The FOP an dLabor Unions were not involved in ANY of his investigations. The Police Bill of Rights can not save a job if there is sufficient evidence to fire. The career Service Appeal heard the case used to fire him and that case used was a dog!

by John	Oct 9, 2008 12:40 PM
Get your facts straight. This Sheriff could have used a "Just Cause" discipline policy to fire him, but the policy is written for cause which means any reason. But that lowers the bar and the investigations in turn are of lower quality and make it

by John	Oct 9, 2008 12:40 PM
harder to have the case for firing someone more difficult to hold up under an appeal. "Just Cause" forces the investigations to meet a high standard and shortcuts are less frequent. Look up the Chris Wolschon case the Kerry O'connor won on appeal.

by cindy	Oct 9, 2008 12:40 PM
JN your crazy. White has fired people for little or no good reason. Check some of the records. When Mike Page and some of White other Cronies were there. People who stood up to page lost their job. WHITE HAS THE FINAL SAY. 1 time gatusso used FOP.

by alfred	Oct 9, 2008 12:39 PM
i believe white hired gattuso back more then once.

by To Biff Buff	Oct 9, 2008 12:39 PM
Ever wonder how many IA files warranting an FDLE de-certification hearing make it to them from Pasco Sheriff's Office since Bob White took Office? Would none surprise you? He burys his dirty laundry even in violation of the rules.

by MIKE	Oct 9, 2008 12:39 PM
hEY BILL BUFF, you cant do anything if the sheriff refuses to post the IA's. Gattuso has active IA's and the Major did nothing with them. This man should have been fired. Thats 30 IA's and more sitting there waiting for a determination. Bob is bad

by J. N.	Oct 8, 2008 5:56 PM
Believe me, all wanted him gone, but Dont blame the Sheriff. Theres the Police Officers Bill of Rights, the F.O.P. Union and their attorneys, the Career Service appeals board. It takes an act of congress to fire someone and Bobs hands were tied.

by Micky	Oct 8, 2008 5:32 PM
This is funny.You have White supporters and White haters.Doesnt anyone see the reality that a rogue cop was a cancer to the community and he should have been gone.Cannon Tried,but the career service that he set up, brought him back. White did nothing

by Bill	Oct 8, 2008 5:32 PM
White boasts lower crime rate and lower response to calls. I don't see it and apparently he has a lower call for cleaning house. Deputies selling drugs, deputies DUI, Deputies leaving under shady circumstances,WHAT NEXT. We need to clean them all out

by Bill B	Oct 8, 2008 5:32 PM
I hope the St. Pete times actually endorses the right candidate for sheriff. Not a Half an endorsement to a sheriff that they are hoping will actually do the right thing. Pasco is failing and we all need to have our voice heard. Vote CHANGE!!!

by Biff	Oct 8, 2008 4:50 PM
YOU HEARD ME RIGHT... OUST WHITE!!!

by Jill	Oct 8, 2008 3:08 PM
He's a MAVERICK !!!

by Biff Buff	Oct 8, 2008 12:27 PM
It's funny how you blame Sheriff White, yet FDLE reviews cases and decides to pull a certificate whether IA does or doesn't find a valid charge, if they didn't then I think you are painting a picture without all details.

by Steve	Oct 8, 2008 12:27 PM
Sheriff White should not shoulder the blame for a "rogue" cop who worked the system. As I understand the last Sheriff fired him and he got his job back. The Law Enforcement Officer's Bill of Rights does not allow for a Sheriff to fire people at will.

by Jimbo	Oct 8, 2008 12:26 PM
Please St. Pete Times, do NOT give up on this one. The public is owed the true story of what Gattuso had done, and even more, what took so long for White to take NO ACTION. As if rising crime is not bad enough, White cant control his own agency.

by Pasco Resident	Oct 8, 2008 12:26 PM
This deputy was fired under the former administration, but the Career Service Board re-instated him. Add the Police Officer Bill of Rights and, now, an unfriendly union. White must have done it right to get Gattuso to cut his losses.

by Biff's Mother	Oct 8, 2008 12:26 PM
Hey Biff, Go put up more signs. Remember this guy was with the SO for 20 years.... only eight with White... Sheriff White is the best sheriff in recent history !!! VIVA WHITE !!!!

by jed	Oct 8, 2008 12:26 PM
This demonstrates the lack of oversight from the current administration! Get rid of the good ole boys in there!

by Biff	Oct 7, 2008 5:43 PM
This is a debacle. Bob White must go! Vote him out!!!