A Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officer admitted he improperly used a law enforcement database to look up his wife’s ex-husband, according to a JSO internal investigation.
It was the most recent of 18 internal investigations into Officer Richard W. Futch before JSO said he shot and killed a man armed with a knife in July.
Officer Futch is accused of misusing Florida’s Driver And Vehicle Information Database, known as DAVID.
The internal affairs record says Officer Futch “admitted to looking [Frank] Byrne’s information up on the DAVID system for personal reasons.”
Byrne is the ex-husband of Officer Futch’s wife.
“What did I do wrong? Why did he do that?” said Byrne. “Since I’ve never been in trouble with him or been investigated, I feel just, like, violated almost.”
Action News Jax requested the internal affairs records on this investigation from JSO on July 9.
After two follow-up messages and a payment of $45, JSO released the 88-page document to Action News Jax with 82 of the pages completely blacked out.
The last page shows the investigation results in JSO giving Futch “formal counseling.”
JSO does not consider formal counseling to be discipline.
“Persons have been terminated. Persons have been severely reprimanded as a result of [misusing the DAVID system]. The fact that he received a formal counseling is simply equal to a slap on the wrist,” said Action News Jax Crime and Safety Expert Ken Jefferson.
Byrne said he did not feel that formal counseling was enough of a punishment, given Futch’s history of internal investigations.
Internal affairs found Futch violated agency rules in 14 out of the 18 investigations prior to the fatal shooting.
“How many times does it take?” said Byrne. “I’m just puzzled. I don’t understand how they can just continue on the same path, you know?”
The investigation into Officer Futch’s fatal shooting of Harold Kraii is still open.
In the meantime, he’s back on regular duty.
Action News Jax reached out to Officer Futch through the police union, offering the chance to share his side of the story. We have not heard back.