- April 26, 2024
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Story courtesy of the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, by Public Affairs Manager Brittany Kershaw.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office terminated Deputy Robert Finn over a year ago following a failure to immediately take action to a vehicle traveling the wrong way on the Interstate 95 off-ramp at Palm Coast Parkway on April 16, 2018.
The vehicle was soon after involved in a deadly vehicle crash on I-95.
Finn appealed his termination and the case was sent to arbitration so the positions by both the FCSO and the Coastal Florida Police Benevolent Association could be heard and decided by an arbitrator as required by the union’s collective bargaining contract. The hearings were held at the Flagler County Court House in Bunnell on March 20. The arbitrator’s decision was received by the FCSO on July 31.
The FCSO expects deputy sheriffs to take immediate action and to always act with the safety of the public as their number one concern. The arbitrator found that Finn “erred several times and disobeyed rules and regulations of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.”
Nonetheless, the arbitrator ruled that FCSO must reinstate Finn as an employee without back pay or missed benefits and this decision is binding and not appealable.
“Although we disagree with the decision of the arbitrator, the discipline he imposed is still substantial and we will abide by that decision as it is a collective bargaining agreement requirement and we believe in the process of law,” FCSO’s Chief of Staff Mark Strobridge said.
Finn will return to work at the FCSO as a deputy sheriff in the Community Policing division. He will receive additional training to aid in his performance.
