Two Crestview police officers have been fired following Police Chief Tony Taylor’s review of sworn testimony in former Maj. Joseph Floyd’s trial and subsequent investigations, Taylor said.
Sgt. Matthew Purvines and Officer Zachary Faircloth were terminated following internal investigations that Taylor began Sept. 4, the Crestview Police Department announced on Thursday.
The men were placed on administrative leave with pay during the investigation, according to a CPD news release, which said that Taylor determined “… both officers disclosed personal and critical breaches of ethics and moral character … (such as) falsification of police reports.”
Investigations concluded Tuesday and found the following violations of CPD, Crestview and Florida policies and statutes, according to Taylor:
•Withholding information from a superior officer and not being truthful at all times
•Knowingly using false information in a police report
•Being disorderly, whether on or off duty
Purvines had been with the CPD since 2004; he served in the patrol division, was a County Drug Task Force investigator, a Street Crimes Unit investigator, a sergeant and a canine handler.
Faircloth also began serving the CPD in 2004; he was assigned to the patrol division, was a Street Crimes Unit investigator and was a canine handler.
Taylor said he will continue to review trial testimony to determine whether additional administrative actions are necessary.
“My assessment is not yet finished with the disposition of these immediate matters,” he said. “In fact, it has only just begun.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Two Crestview police officers fired in Floyd trial aftermath