Lakeland Cop Scandal

Its a city known for it's beautiful lakes and majestic swans, but recently the city has become known for the problems within its police department, including a sex scandal.

This is a TIMELINE based on information compiled from; records of the Polk County State Attorney's Office, Lakeland Police Department and ABC Action News broadcast reports.

2013-01-18 12:13:30

Sex Scandal Investigation Begins

Lakeland Police Officer Steve Sherman first met Sue Eberle in 1997 when she worked for the City of Lakeland. When Eberle was hired by LPD in 2005 they became friends. When Sherman's relationship with his wife became strained, Sherman and Eberle started having sexually oriented conversations. Those conversations eventually led to sexual encounters.

2013-03-01 12:13:30

Long list of names

Sue Eberle's confidant, Detective Loretta Jackson, contacted an internal affairs detective she knew to meet with her off duty. Jackson had a long list of names she showed the IA detective and said they were provided by Eberle who had documented her sexual encounters with current and former Lakeland Police officers.

2013-03-25 12:13:30

Reaching out to FDLE

Lakeland Police Department contacted FDLE following a request from Chief Womack regarding criminal allegations during its internal investigation. The agency wanted to meet with FDLE about the confession by a long-term employee that she had nonconsensual contact with a number of City of Lakeland employees, past and present.

2013-03-26 03:50:53

FDLE Investigates

Lakeland Police Department's Office of Professional Standards met with FDLE and requested their agency conduct an investigation into allegations of criminal misconduct by specific LPD officers.

2013-04-03 18:44:29

FDLE interviews Sue Eberle

FDLE interviewed Sue Eberle, Lakeland Police Department crime analyst, about sexual contact she had with five Lakeland Police Officers. Those included: Lt. Albert 'Al' Wilson, Sgt. Russell 'Rusty' Longaberger, Sgt. David Wooverton, Detective Ricky Gries and Former officer Rawn Haynes.

2013-04-09 18:44:29

Polk State Attorney's Office gets involved

FDLE referred the case to the Polk County State Attorney's Office regarding allegations of repeated sexual activity involving Lakeland Police Officers both on and off duty.

2013-04-10 03:50:53

Subpoena for information

The Lakeland Police Department received a subpoena from the Polk County State Attorney's Office requesting additional information for their review. In response to the State Attorney's Office criminal investigation the police department put their internal affairs investigation on hold pending the conclusion of the SAO's findings.

2013-04-16 03:50:53

Records turned over

Officials from the police department met with an investigator and Assistant State Attorney at police station and provided them with the materials requested in the subpoena.

2013-05-03 18:44:29

A employee resigns

Crime analyst Tiffaney Dwyer resigned from Lakeland Police Department as the internal affairs investigation continued.

2013-05-07 03:14:03

Eberle interviewed a second time

Investigators had a second interview with Eberle in which they asked about crime analyst Tiffaney Dwyer and whether she had sexual encounters with officers while on duty. Eberle said she was not close with Dwyer, but that she (Dwyer) had sexted with several officers on duty. During this interview Eberle also talked more about her encounters with Officer Steve Sherman. It was a sexual encounter with Sherman that led to the internal affairs investigation.

2013-05-08 12:13:30

Untruthful testimony

State Attorney Investigators met with former Lakeland Police Officer Steve Sherman and had an informal conversation. He admitted to investigators that he was not truthful when interviewed during the police department's internal affairs investigation. He then admitted to engaging in sexual activity with Sue Eberle while on duty as a Lakeland Police officer. He stated that he wished to set the record straight. A formal interview was scheduled two days later.

2013-05-09 04:25:40

Officer Dan Jonas retires

Officer Dan Jonas submitted a letter to Lakeland Police Department stating that he was retiring effective May 10, 2013. Interviews released in June 2013 by the Polk County State Atttorney's office would reveal that Eberle told investigators she exchanged nude photos and participated in sexting with Officer Dan Jonas. Eberle said the two never had sexual contact. She considered him a 'freak' and wanted her to do strange things. One of those included her urinating in a cup so he could drink it.

2013-05-10 12:13:30

Sexual conversations lead to sexual encounters

During his interview under oath with the State Attorney's Office, Steve Sherman discussed how he met Sue Eberle and eventually the two of them started having sexually oriented conversations. The conversations were erotic and led to their first sexual encounter in late 2010 or early 2011.

2013-05-10 12:26:34

An encounter in a closet

Investigators interview George Vidal who initially denied having a sexual encounter with Eberle, but then remembered an incident from seven or eight years ago. He said at the time he suffered a low blood sugar episode and what happened was sort of foggy but he remembered he blacked out. He said that Sue unbuckled his pants and straddled him on a closet floor at the police department.

2013-05-13 12:13:30

Humiliated and embarassed

Tiffaney Dwyer told investigators she was humiliated and embarrassed about the internal affairs investigation and that's why she resigned. She described how former Lakeland Police Officer Rawn Haynes texted her a photograph of him holding his private parts. This occurred back in 2010. Dwyer said the two flirted but she never had sex with Haynes.

2013-05-13 12:13:30

All talk - no action

Rawn Haynes was interviewed by investigators and admitted to the sexual allegations made by Eberle and Dwyer. He said he and Eberle had talked about having sex but never followed through with it.

2013-05-14 12:13:30

Initially doubted the stories

According to her interview with investigators for the State Attorney's Office, Detective Loretta Jackson said she initially doubted the stories she was told by Sue Eberle, but once she saw some of the sexual explicit texts and naked photographs she began to believe her. Eventually the detective started thinking the sexual behavior was because of Eberle's childhood abuse and didn't know how to handle the situation. Jackson said she struggled with being a friend to Eberle and her duties as a police officer. She said she tried to dissuade her from the risky sexual behavior.

2013-05-14 12:13:30

Sex involving a Captain

A long-time friend of Sue Eberle who worked at a local bank told the State Attorney's Office about three sexual encounters she had with Captain John Thomason. Two of them she said occurred while he was off duty and one during his lunch hour.

2013-05-20 04:24:00

Another retirement

Sgt. Tony Lewis submitted a letter to supervisor Lt. Al Wilson that he was retiring and his last day would be Monday June 3, 2013. Interviews released in June 2013 by the Polk County State Atttorney's office would reveal that Eberle told Officer Jackson that she and Sgt. Tony Lewis would sext each other.

2013-05-20 12:13:30

Eberle interviewed a third time

Eberle had her third interview with investigators from the State Attorney's Office. They discussed with her inappropriate contact with a retired City of Lakeland employee and a City of Lakeland Fire Inspector/Investigator.

2013-06-07 12:13:30

Captain admits to sexual encounters

Captain John Thomason confirmed for investigators he did take Eberle's phone and took a photograph of his penis while in the bathroom at the Lakeland Police Department. He asked the photo be sent to Eberle's friend who Thomason wanted to have sex with. He said this occurred while he was off-duty and regretted doing it. He also admitted he had sexual encounters with Eberle's friend, but said it happened while he was off-duty. Thomason rose to the rank of Captain in October 2011.

2013-06-11 12:13:30

A flirtatious thing got out of hand

Lt. Al Wilson described Sue Eberle as a big flirt and that she tried to get him to have sex with her on many occasions. Wilson denied grabbing her butt, but admitted on one occasion she rubbed up against him in his office and he touched her over her clothing between her legs. He said it was a flirtatious thing that got out of hand.

2013-06-12 12:13:30

A Sargeant denies the allegations

Sgt. Bryan McNabb told investigators he never engaged in any sexually related conversations with Sue Eberle or Tiffaney Dwyer. He said he did not know Eberle on a personal basis and did not interact with her. McNabb mentioned that Eberle once inferred that she was good at oral sex. He did not report it but said in hindsight he should have. He told investigators he did not know why Eberle and Dwyer would lie about him. McNabb declined to take a polygraph test.

2013-06-12 12:13:30

Friendly and flirtatious

Detective Rick Gries described Eberle as friendly and flirtatious. He admitted their working relationship turned personal and involved conversations that were sexual. He said they both showed each other pictures on their cell phones of their private parts. Gries claimed on one occasion while they were on duty Eberle grabbed his private part over his clothes.

2013-06-12 12:13:30

Occasional sex

Lakeland firefighter David Bivens met Eberle many years ago and for the last seven years had met once or twice a year for sex. One of those occasions took place in her vehicle after Lakeland Police Officer Arnulfo Crispin’s funeral.

2013-06-13 12:13:30

Sexual innuendos

Jose Diez often assisted with computer and phone problems at the Lakeland Police Department as part of his job as a support analyst for the city. He knew Eberle, but they mostly talked over the phone. It included sexual innuendos from Eberle and he engaged in sexual talk not knowing if she was serious. He admitted to kissing Tiffaney Dwyer in the breakroom at the police department and touching her breast. He knew it was inappropriate and the two agreed it would never happen again.

2013-06-13 17:31:30

SEX IN O'TOWN

It was in the summer of 2012, while Sue Eberle was in Orlando attending an analyst academy, that Sgt. Rusty Longaberger says he first had sex with Eberle. He drove to Orlando to meet her. Longaberger denied to investigators that any of the sexual contact he had with Eberle took place while he was on duty or that it ever involved forced sex.

2013-06-17 21:43:53

HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE TRAFFIC STOP

Polk County State Attorney Jerry Hill sends a letter to Lakeland Police Chief Womack raising concern about an officer's behavior during a traffic stop. Hill said Officer Dustin Fetz's instructing a woman to shake out her bra during a drug search was "highly questionable" and "offensive." The incident occurred on May 21 and the State Attorney pointed out it shows a serious lack of training and supervision. He demanded an internal investigation and a close, hard look at how officers are trained.

2013-06-18 12:13:30

Sgt Woolverton speaks to investigators

Sgt David Woolverton described Eberle as flirtatious and outgoing to investigators with the State Attorney's Office. He said the two sent each other sexual explicit texts which included photographs of their private parts. They had sex on more than one occasion. He denied ever having contact with her while on duty and that it ever involved forced sex. He was offered a polygraph test but declined.

2013-06-20 21:42:45

VIDEO SHOWS THE NOW INFAMOUS BRA SHAKE INCIDENT

The dash cam video of the traffic stop conducted by Officer Dustin Fetz in the bra shake incident is released. The driver, Zoe Brugger, said the officer was so determined to find drugs on her, that he demanded she lift up her shirt over her stomach, then pull on her bra and shake it. He never found anything. "He really went to some great lengths to search for drugs," she said. "It was demeaning, degrading." Brugger got pulled over on May 21 because of a broken tail light.

2013-06-25 03:14:03

12 week investigation ends

Polk County State Attorney's Office completes its twelve week criminal investigation which focused on the on-duty actions of officers. The investigation included interviewing 19 people, including 11 current or former sworn Lakeland Police officers. Two city employees were also interviewed. Ten were involved in either sex acts or sexually suggestive behavior, and five of those are supervisors and ranked members of Lakeland Police Department. The behavior took place over the past seven years with Lakeland Police Department crime analyst Sue Eberle. Some of the acts would have been criminal in nature if timely reported and investigated. Other acts involved sexual harassment in the workplace.

2013-06-26 03:14:03

PRESS CONFERENCE HELD

The City of Lakeland and the Lakeland Police Department held a press conference to address the ongoing internal investigation involving the alleged sexual misconduct by City of Lakeland employees and senior leadership at the Lakeland Police Department.

2013-07-01 03:14:03

Police Chief defends the agency

Lakeland Police Chief appears before Lakeland City Commission and speaks for more than two hours about the disciplinary policies and defending the agency.

2013-07-02 03:14:03

Leaders ask for an intervention

The Polk County Legislative Delegation urged the City of Lakeland to bring in Polk Sheriff Grady Judd to clean up the problems and restore confidence in the police department.

2013-07-03 03:14:03

State and federal sexual harassment complaints filed

Sue Eberle and her husband hold a news conference at the office of her attorney who announced they've filed federal and state sexual harassment complaints against the city of Lakeland and the Lakeland Police Department, with their next legal action likely a lawsuit against the parties.

2013-07-09 12:13:30

Lt. Al Wilson Target of six INVESTIGATIONS

The I-Team discovers the sex scandal is just the latest in a long list of questionable incidents involving Lakeland Police Lt. Al Wilson. Documents obtained by the I-Team show since 2007 Wilson has been the target of six other internal affairs investigations, documented in more than 18-hundred pages of reports.

2013-07-09 17:19:47

CAPTAIN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

The highest ranking supervisor in the middle of the sex scandal announces he plans to retire. Captain John Thomason sent a letter to the Chief Womack about retiring on Friday, July 12. During the Polk State Atttorney's investigation Thomason confirmed he did take Eberle's phone and took a photograph of his penis while in the bathroom at the Lakeland Police Department. He asked the photo be sent to a friend of Eberle's who Thomason wanted to have sex with. He said this occurred while he was off-duty and regretted doing it. He also admitted he had sexual encounters with Eberle's friend, but said they happened while he was off-duty. Thomason rose to the rank of Captain in October 2011.

2013-07-10 12:13:30

In her own words

For the first time we hear from the woman at the center of the sex scandal and how she felt exploited by 20 police officers and city employees. The I-Team obtained the hours of audio interviews investigators conducted with crime analyst Sue Eberle. She describes in detail what she says is a culture at the Lakeland Police Department and how she was victimized.

2013-07-12 12:13:30

A POSITIVE MEETING AND A BLUE RIBBON PANEL

Chief Womack met behind closed doors with Polk State Attorney Jerry Hill to discuss the recent scandal and other matters of concern regarding the Lakeland Police Department. The Chief said it was a positive meeting, but little else was mentioned. Also, Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields announced that a blue ribbon panel made up of community leaders will review what’s wrong at LPD and give recommendations. They plan to look at whether there are enough safeguards for whistleblowers and if the public has enough say into how police officers deal with the community. The Mayor expects a report in 30 days and a final evaluation in two months.

2013-07-12 12:13:30

Two Sgts learn their fate soon

Two of the sergeants named in the sex scandal had a pre-disciplinary hearing. Both Sgt. Rusy Longaberger and Sgt. David Woolverton will learn their fate on Monday July 15.

2013-07-15 12:13:30

Two are terminated

Sgt. Rusy Longaberger and Sgt. David Woolverton were both terminated by the Lakeland Police Department for conduct unbecoming and officer, failure to report misconduct and neglect of duty. Woolverton told State Attorney investigators he did have a sexual relationship with Eberle in the past, but denied ever having contact with her while on duty and that it ever involved forced sex. Longaberger denied to investigators that any of the sexual contact he had with Eberle took place while he was on duty or that it ever involved forced sex. Both were accused by the State Attorney's Office of providing false testimony when they were interviewed about sexual misconduct at the Lakeland Police Department.

2013-07-15 12:13:30

Advisory Board Named

Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields named the 15 members of the Police Advisory Commission that will review the problems at the Lakeland Police Department and City Hall. The panel will work independent of the City Administration and suggest actions that can be taken, including improvements to the culture at LPD and what can be done to restore the citizens trust.

2013-07-16 12:13:30

Two more resign

A high ranking officer involved in the Lakeland Police Department sex scandal and a second officer resigned. Lt. Al Wilson, who was with the LPD for 21 years, and Officer George Vidal, gave the chief resignation letters in lieu of termination.

2013-07-16 12:13:30

40 DUI CASES COULD GET TOSSED OUT

Lakeland Police Department is under fire yet again. Polk State Attorney Jerry Hill told Chief Lisa Womack in a letter he questions the integrity of the department's internal affairs unit. The letter comes after DUI officer David Edds admitted to a judge that he had fellow officers notarize blank arrest documents and then filled in the information later. The lieutenant who heads the IA department tipped off those being investigated. Hill said the incident, "leaves us with some serious doubts about our ability to work with your internal affairs department."

2013-07-17 12:13:30

NINE OFFICERS AND ONE CIVILIAN SO FAR

Nine sworn officers and one civilian employee are no longer with the Lakeland Police Department due to the internal affairs investigations. The investigation is expected to be complete in the next four weeks. Lt. Al Wilson, resigned 7-16-13, Officer George Vidal, resigned, 7-16-13, Sgt. Rusty Longaberger, terminated, 7-15-13 Sgt. David Woolverton, terminated 7-15-13, Sgt. Felicia Wilson, resigned 7-15-13, Captain John Thomason, retired 7-12-13, Sgt. Tony Lewis, retired 6-3-13, Officer Dan Jonas, retired 5-10-13, Tiffaney Dwyer Ross, (civilian employee) 5-3-13, Officer Steve Sherman, resigned 1-18-13.

2013-07-17 12:13:30

FDLE receives another request

Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed that the agency received a request for another criminal inquiry into the Lakeland Police Department. FDLE would not confirm who put in the request and would only say that it is being reviewed. LPD would not confirm nor deny the department asked for the inquiry. FDLE conducted the initial investigation into sexual misconduct involving several officers with LPD back in the spring. That was followed by the State Attorney's Office investigation in which they determined there were no criminal charges that could be pursued.

2013-07-23 12:13:30

Panel Answers Citizens Questions

A town hall meeting held by 10 Lakeland city leaders resulted in polarizing opinions from residents in attendance. The meeting lasted close to three hours and drew more than 200 residents to the Lakeland Center. Some city leaders said they share in the same feeling as residents and want to find out why it took so long for the scandal to be brought to light and how it went undetected. The meeting went on without two key people. The co-chairs of the Citizen's Advisory Commission (CAC), Lakeland businessman Joe P. Ruthven and Polk State College President Eileen Holden, resigned just hours before the meeting. Both were named co-chairs by Mayor Gow Fields. The CAC is slated to meet for the first time July 25, 2013.

2013-07-24 08:32:52

MORE COMMITTEE MEMBERS DROP OUT

The City of Lakeland confirmed three more members of the Citizens Advisory Commission (CAC) resigned. Earlier in the week two other members resigned from the committee put together by Mayor Gow Fields. The three recent resignations are; Dr. Anne Kerr, President of Florida Southern College, Dr. Kent Ingle, President of Southeastern University and Elaine Thompson, CEO of Lakeland Regional Medical Center. The CAC plans on meeting for the first time July 25, 2013.

2013-07-30 08:32:52

TWO OFFICERS APPEAL THEIR FIRINGS

Two Lakeland Police officers involved in a sex scandal are fighting to get their jobs back. Former Sergeants David Woolverton and Rusty Longaberger filed grievances with LPD and plead their case before Chief Womack on July 30, 2013. Both are asking for their back pay and full benefits. Sue Eberle's attorney says he is outraged the are asking for their jobs back. Chief Womack has until August 16 to make a decision if the terminations stand. Both men can appeal her decision.

2013-07-30 12:13:30

REVIEW COMPLETE AND CASES DROPPED

The Polk County State Attorney's Office dropped 44 cases after completing it's review of those involving Officer David Edds and Sgt. Ray Lloyd. The I-Team previously reported the officers admitted to putting false information in some reports during an investigation by the State Attorney's Office. Officer Edds says in three of four cases, he left pages of his dui reports blank, then filled them out days later.

Lakeland Cop Scandal

Launch
Copy this timeline Login to copy this timeline 3d Game mode

Contact us

We'd love to hear from you. Please send questions or feedback to the below email addresses.

Before contacting us, you may wish to visit our FAQs page which has lots of useful info on Tiki-Toki.

We can be contacted by email at: hello@tiki-toki.com.

You can also follow us on twitter at twitter.com/tiki_toki.

If you are having any problems with Tiki-Toki, please contact us as at: help@tiki-toki.com

Close

Edit this timeline

Enter your name and the secret word given to you by the timeline's owner.

3-40 true Name must be at least three characters
3-40 true You need a secret word to edit this timeline

Checking details

Please check details and try again

Go
Close