E-mails put Florida investigator in hot seat (Boot camp death)

[seafan]

E-mails put Florida investigator in hot seat

BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER
Mar. 28, 2006


As his department conducted an investigation into Martin Lee Anderson's death, the head of Florida's top police agency carried on back-door chatter with the sheriff who ran the boot camp where Martin died.


When the family of Martin Lee Anderson questioned the impartiality of Florida's top state lawman, Guy Tunnell, in investigating the teen's death at a Panama City boot camp, Tunnell assured Floridians he would be fair and impartial.
The reason the family was suspicious: Tunnell, head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, is a former sheriff of Bay County, founded the boot camp, and is friends with the current sheriff, Frank McKeithen, whose office runs the camp.

Now, a series of e-mails obtained by The Miami Herald shows that at the same time his agency was investigating the camp, Tunnell kept a running commentary to McKeithen, other sheriffs and his own staff in which he let off steam and disparaged critics of his investigation and the state's boot camps.
He also kept McKeithen abreast of the FDLE's efforts to keep a video -- which showed boot camp guards kneeing and punching the teen hours before his death -- from becoming public.

snip

He sent McKeithen an e-mail on Feb. 9, the day The Miami Herald published a story quoting two members of the House Criminal Justice Appropriations Committee -- Miami Beach Democrat Dan Gelber, a former federal prosecutor, and Miami Beach Republican Gus Barreiro -- who had seen the video and said Martin had been ''brutally'' beaten and ``flung around like a rag doll.''
The two lawmakers were the first to view the video before its release. Gov. Jeb Bush told reporters he was ''constrained'' from discussing the tape, and indirectly criticized the two legislators who ``weren't as constrained.''
Tunnell sent McKeithen a copy of the Bush's remarks, adding: 'I understand that the Guv was just a `little' sarcastic when he referred to those 'less constrained' from commenting -- such as the two representatives.''

snip

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/14201419.htm

[seafan]

1. "From day one, there's been a big cover up on what happened to ...."

Martin Lee Anderson."


Update:

Bush wished FDLE chief would've stayed out of boot camp investigation

By BRENT KALLESTAD
Associated Press Writer

March 28, 2006 9:11PM


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement should not have communicated with Bay County's sheriff during the state's investigation into the death of a teenager who was punched and kicked at the sheriff's boot camp, Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday.

In e-mails to Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen and others, FDLE Commissioner Guy Tunnell criticized those who questioned the effectiveness of the boot camp concept. Tunnell started Bay County's boot camp when he was sheriff and is a close friend of McKeithen.
"E-mail is a very difficult thing," Bush said. "It's a means of public communication and on matters that relate to investigations I think making sure that people stay focused and disciplined on these things protects the folks that are being investigated and is also more respectful for the people who are grieving."

Bush said he had a meeting later Tuesday with Tunnell, but didn't indicate if they'd discuss the e-mails.
"I'll see him today," Bush said. "I'll leave it at that."
Bush also said FDLE has played a secondary role in the matter since he brought in State Attorney Mark Ober from Tampa to conduct the investigation.

snip

"I encourage the state attorney's office who is investigating this and I know the federal government is investigating this, to look at what potential cover up has been and all the potential players in it," said state Rep. Gus Barreiro, R-Miami Beach, adding that "from day one, there's been a big cover up on what happened to Martin Lee Anderson."

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060328/APN/603280734