The investigative interviews
Officer Roberto Garibaldi #164
Officer Kenneth Vanderpool #336
Officer Justin Claxon #233
Synopsis:
On 09/24/24, the Lakeland Police Department received am email complaint from Mr. Billy Blume. Blume alleged on 09/15/24, officers (Garibaldi, Vanderpool, and Claxon) arrived at his residence and violated his First Amendment rights during an encounter at his residence involving his son. Blume indicated the officers were unprofessional and discourteous in their interaction with him. On 10/02/24, Acting Chief of Police Hans Lehman ordered an Administrative Investigation into this allegation.
Related Policies/Statutes:
Officer Roberto Garibaldi:
General Order 3-1.1 Job Knowledge, Competency, and Performance (DS-1) General Order 3-1.10 Courtesy, Responsiveness, and Impartiality (DS-1)
General Order 3-1.14 Conduct Unbecoming (DS-1)
Officer Kenneth Vanderpool:
General Order 3-1.1 Job Knowledge, Competency, and Performance (DS-1) General Order 3-1.14 Conduct Unbecoming (DS-1)
Officer Justin Claxon:
General Order 3-1.10 Courtesy, Responsiveness, and Impartiality (DS-1)
General Order 3-1.14 Conduct Unbecoming (DS-1)
Nature of Complaint:
On 09/24/24, the Lakeland Police Department received am email complaint from Mr. Billy Blume. Blume alleged on 09/15/24, officers (Garibaldi, Vanderpool, and Claxon) arrived at his residence and violated his First Amendment rights during an encounter at his residence involving his son. Blume indicated the officers were unprofessional and discourteous in their interaction with him.
Officer Roberto Garibald
On 12/10/24, I Detective Paula Parker, along with Sergeant George Anthony obtained a sworn audio-recorded statement from Officer Garibaldi who is listed as a subject officer in this complaint. Officer Garibaldi’s chosen representative, FOP Representative Lieutenant Brian Wallace was also present during the interview. Officer Garibaldi was given the Garrity Warning prior to the interview. The interview was conducted at the Lakeland Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards. The following is a summary of Officer Garibaldi’s sworn testimony.
Investigator’s Note: Throughout this report, I will refer to the son, who is also the Baker Act, Jacob Blume, as JB. I will refer to the Complainant of this investigation Billy Blume, as BB. Billy Blume is Jacob’s father, and they live together at the incident location.
Garibaldi indicated he responded to the incident scene.
after an officer requested assistance. Garibaldi stated dispatch placed the South side channel in emergency traffic mode based on this request. (Page 5)
Garibaldi advised when he arrived on scene, he observed JB, who was having an altercation with his neighbor. Garibaldi placed JB in handcuffs and detained him at this
time. Garibaldi indicated after placing JB in handcuffs he began to hear an altercation between Officer Vanderpool and BB. Garibaldi heard Vanderpool making comments that he (BB) was instigating, antagonizing people on the scene and he (BB) was going to beat people up. Garibaldi stated, based on what he heard, he walked up to BB and asked him if he was going to continue, or was he going to shut up. Garibaldi said, BB stopped talking. Garibaldi said BB asked for a supervisor.
I asked Garibaldi, “Prior to making contact with the complainant you were heard on BWC asking Officer Marlowe to give you his handcuffs … After getting the handcuffs you walked over to the complainant. .. while holding the handcuffs in your hand, you told him (BB) if he was going to keep running his mouth, or was he going to shut up? After this encounter you walked back to Officer Marlowe and handed him his handcuffs back. Can you explain why you needed Marlowe’s handcuffs when you made contact with BB?” Garibaldi stated, “Yes ma’am. The reason that I needed his handcuffs were because I already used, utilized my handcuffs, you know, putting his son Jacob, detaining him … And when I walked over there it was basically because he, based on the interaction that he had with Officer Vanderpool, you know, what I heard, you know, that he was instigating. He was going to beat people up; that’s what I heard. So, based on that he was borderline interfering with our investigation because we were, we did not gather all the factors of, you know, what was going on in the call. We did not know exactly what was going on in the call yet, and if he was instigating, I was gonna you know, I mainly wanted to get compliance. For him you know, with the handcuffs, which it did yes ma’am. Because he stopped.” Garibaldi again, affirmed, he got compliance from BB by having the handcuffs in his hand.
Garibaldi was asked why he asked BB, “Are you going to run your mouth or are you going to shut up.” Garibaldi stated, “Once again, I made those comments based on everything that was going on in the call. Like we didn’t know exactly what was going on in the call, and he, the interaction he had with Officer Vanderpool, that’s what made me you know, made that statement. Um, based on that, I thought that he was saying that he was going to beat people up on the scene, and he was already, he was aggravating people on the scene, and once again, when I got on scene, Jacob was arguing with his neighbor, hey, you know get inside, which he complied. So, I already got compliance from that guy. Then I dealt, I was dealing with Jacob, while I made him compliant by putting, you know, placing him in, you know, handcuffs. And then he was running his mouth (BB). That’s what I thought he was doing”
At the end of the interaction Garibaldi had with BB, BB asked for a supervisor. Before calling for Sergeant Hall to be enroute, BB records Garibaldi state to him, “And for you being like and adult you act like a child.” Garibaldi was asked why he made this statement. Garibaldi replied, “Uh, I made that statement based on everything that was going on. Um, the interaction that he had with Vanderpool. The interaction he had with me, and that’s when I told him that he, based on, he was telling people he was going to beat them up on scene, and the other, and he was aggravating everybody. That’s when I told him, hey, your acting like a child because of that”
Investigator’s Note: It should be noted BB recorded Garibaldi making the statement about BB acting like a child. Garibaldi had his BWC muted at this time, therefore it is only captured on BB’s recording.
During the interview Garibaldi and Lieutenant Wallace agreed to have Garibaldi waive his right to allow Sergeant Anthony to ask a question.
Sergeant Anthony asked, “At any point had you put any kind of correlation together that Mr. Blume, Billy Blume was Jacob’s father? Did you know who he was while you were on scene? Garibaldi responded, “No, absolutely not. I didn’t know who he was from, I never seen him before to be honest with you. I don’t think so.” Anthony stated, “And is it fair to say, uh, as a police officer, as a peace officer. Um, you know one of the things that you have to do on these scenes is maintain control.” Garibaldi responded, “Control the scene, absolutely.”
Anthony went on ask Garibaldi, “So was your perception that while you, while Jacob is interacting with this neighbor, um, your perception was that this was another individual that was possibly trying to interfere. When I say another individual, Mr. Blume?” Garibaldi responded, “Absolutely”
Garibaldi was asked to read General Order 3-1.1 Job Knowledge, Competency, and Performance. After reading this policy Garibaldi was asked if he felt he violated it with his interaction with BB. He stated, “No, ma’am”.
Garibaldi was asked to read General Order 3-1.10 Courtesy, Responsiveness, and Impartiality. After reading this policy Garibaldi was asked if he felt he violated it when he told BB, “Are you going to keep running your mouth, or are you going to shut up?” and referring to BB as a child. Garibaldi stated, “I don’t feel that I violated his rights.
Now, could I have been a little more politically correct or less harsh? Absolutely, with my delivery. Now, the reason why I acted the way that I acted is because I don’t know who this guy is.
Once again, when I got on scene and based on what I heard, the comments that he made, I thought that he was instigating people on the scene and he was threatening people, you know, to beat people up. That’s why I acted the way I acted.” When asked if he felt he violated this policy, Garibaldi responded “No, ma’am”.
Garibaldi was asked to read General Order 3-1.14 Conduct Unbecoming. After reading this policy Garibaldi was asked if he felt he violated this policy by not keeping with the highest standards of the law enforcement profession and bringing the department in disrepute. Garibaldi responded, “Yeah, once again, I mean, my delivery, I mean, could’ve been a little, a little bit less, you know, less harsh.” Garibaldi stated, “No.” he did not violate this policy.
At the conclusion of the interview Lieutenant Wallace stated, “I just want to point out that it appears based on some of Mr. Blume’s statements and his own video that he is familiar with this process, especially having said that, uh, I think he made a statement along the lines of ask your IA Sergeant who I am. Um, he clearly knows the process. He focused a lot on First Amendment rights.
When you look at all the video together, and the report, and even his own video, which does appear to have some alterations to it, along with some edits for entertainment purposes, these guys were only responding to what is happening at the time, nothing about the recording. And that seems to be what, what he’s focusing on. I just wanted to make sure that was clear”
Officer Kenneth Vanderpool
On 12/16/24, I Detective Paula Parker, along with Detective Jamey Henderson obtained a sworn audio-recorded statement from Officer Kenneth Vanderpool who is listed as a subject officer in this complaint. Officer Vanderpool’s chosen representative, FOP Representative Lieutenant Brian Wallace was also present during the interview. Officer Vanderpool was given the Garrity Warning prior to the interview. The interview was conducted at the Lakeland Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards. The following is a summary of Officer Vanderpool’s sworn testimony.
Vanderpool acknowledged being dispatched to the incident scene on 09/15/2024. He stated, “I got dispatched to a, I think it was a … a disturbance and then while enroute there, I heard Officer Smith say something on the radio about somebody running, so I thought it was like an active, uh, domestic battery type thing. So, I pulled up, got there. They had somebody by the road. I don’t know who he was. I walked to back to see where Officer Smith was … Billy Blume was sitting outside. I asked him if he had anything to do with it, and then I just walked by him, talked to the other officer for a few minutes. I did have an interaction with him”.
Vanderpool continued with what occurred during the interaction with Billy Blume. Vanderpool explained, “He said something about beating somebody’s ass or something. I thought he was trying to antagonize whatever kid that, uh, the person that they had out there. So, I had an interaction with him telling him if he didn’t stop basically, I was gonna put him in the back of the car, cause I didn’t want him antagonizing that kid and causing a scene. And then I went to see what Smith was doing. Waked back by him (Billy Blume) and left”.
Vanderpool indicated, he did not know BB.
Vanderpool’s BWC captures him saying to BB, “If you’re gonna sit there and say you’re gonna beat people you are going to leave the scene because you are antagonizing, or you’re going to go to the back of the car with him.” BB complained, Vanderpool violated his First Amendment rights, by threatening to take him to jail over this statement. Vanderpool was asked to explain this comment to BB. Vanderpool stated, “I didn’t know, I didn’t know any of those people there. All I knew is I went to an active, what I thought was an active violent scene according to the radio when I first pulled up. And then I, as I walked by him, he’s yelling something. I don’t remember everything he said about beating somebody’s ass or something like that. So, I told him that he needed to leave the scene or he’s gonna go into, I don’t think I said the back of the car with him. I may have, but I meant just in the back of the car until we’re done with the investigation, so he’s not interrupting and, and getting people all hyped up. I, I later found out that was his kid, andhe was talking, telling his kid not to let the officer beat his ass or whatever, but I didn’t know that then”
Investigator’s Note:
It appears BB edited the video posted on his YouTube Channel Shields of Shame. The video depicts Vanderpool saying “Fuck You” to BB and calling him a “Dick” as Vanderpool walks by BB. Vanderpool had his BWC on during his time on scene and his BWC does not indicate these statements being said. Vanderpool denied making these statements to BB.
Vanderpool was asked to read General Order 3-1.1 Job Knowledge, Competency, and Performance. After reading the policy Vanderpool was asked if he felt he violated it during his interaction with BB. He stated,” No” (Page 7).
Vanderpool was asked to read General Order 3-1.14 Conduct Unbecoming. Vanderpool was asked if he felt he violated it, “By not keeping with the highest standards of the law enforcement profession and bringing the department in disrepute, which reflected unfavorably upon you during your interaction with Billy Blume.” Vanderpool stated, “No” (Page 7).
Lieutenant Wallace was asked if he had anything to say in regard to this investigation. He stated,
Wallace: “Ken, I think that you touched base on it, but I wanted to make sure it was clear. Did you know anybody at this residence.”
Vanderpool: “No.”
Wallace: “And you have never met them before?”
Vanderpool: “No.”
Wallace: “And there’s no indication on the video that you knew any of them prior to you even showing up, right?”
Vanderpool: “No.”
Wallace: “And I wanted to clarify, the video that Mr. Blume has submitted, he, did submit that as evidence in this case here?
Parker: “Yes.”
Wallace: “And that is also the video that he’s posted on YouTube on his own channel; is that right?
Parker: “Yes”
Wallace: “I wanted to point out the question that was asked of, Officer Vanderpool, that was, it was the third question about, um, when Ken was walking away and he specifically says, ‘Nobody cares that you’re recording that.’ And while he’s walking away in Mr. Blume’s video, that he has published on YouTube and submitted as evidence in this case, when you compare that to the BWC from everybody’s, um, cameras on the scene to his video, it’s absolutely clear that he has altered this video and fabricated evidence to, to make inflammatory comments, or any inflammatory narrative, that’s been posted publicly and now in Officer Vanderpool’s IA file that, uh, I do think that’s a bit concerning and whether or not his intentions here, are, are genuine. I just would like to point that out. And just specifically for the record, he’s actually, Mr. Blume actually puts captions on that video and specifically said that Officer Vanderpool said, ‘Fuck you,” when he walked away”
Investigator’s Note: Billy Blume did not submit a video; in his complaint he tagged his YouTube Channel. The video on the thumb drive was copied from Blume’s YouTube Channel that he posted. In Blume’s complaint he does not mention Vanderpool saying “Fuck you,” or called him a “Dick.” Clearly, these words are heard on the video to make it appear Vanderpool said it. BWC indicates otherwise.
Officer Justin C/axon
On 12/16/24, I Detective Paula Parker, along with Detective Jamey Henderson obtained a sworn audio-recorded statement from Officer Justin Claxon who is listed as a subject officer in this complaint. Officer Claxon’s chosen representative, FOP Representative Lieutenant Brian Wallace was also present during the interview. Officer Claxon was given the Garrity Warning prior to the interview. The interview was conducted at the Lakeland Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards. The following is a summary of Officer Claxon’s sworn testimony.
Claxon was asked to explain the call he was dispatched to at the incident scene and the interaction he had with BB. Claxon explained, “We received a call to the incident location from Jacob Blume’s girlfriend originally saying they were involved in a disturbance. Um, upon arrival, uh, one of the officers got on scene and advised a male subject was running throughout the scene chaotically. Turned out that subject eventually became Jacob Blume. Uh, he was shortly placed under custody just ’til we could figure out what was going on, um, just because the incident could be domestic in nature, and we didn’t know at the time whether it was gonna turn into a Baker Act, potential charges, or just be washed away all together. Um, after he was secured, then made contact with the original repartee, who was Jacob Blume’s girlfriend. I can’t remember her name at this time. After interviewing her and conducting a, uh, another evaluation of Jacob determined that best course of action would be to Baker Act him. After, uh, conducting those actions, transported him to LRH, turned him over to medical staff, and that was pretty much it”
Claxon indicated he had, in the past, made contact with JB’s girlfriend.
Claxon was asked to describe his interaction with BB during this specific incident. Claxon advised, “Um, so with Billy, basically I was walking in between Jacob and AW, I believe her name was, um, just trying to get both of the parties’ sides of the story and also figure out what exactly we had, if anybody had committed any crimes against each other, if it was just a verbal disturbance, or if it turned into something else, which eventually it did. Um, while I was trying to do that, he (BB) was shouting and yelling at officers, kind of distracting us from our tasks.
While I was walking past him, he started shouting at me. And then he started shouting at other officers.
They got into a conversation amongst themselves, and I basically proceeded on with just trying to get to AW to interview her, since she was the main one that called us in this case, uh, would have more information, at least as far as Jacob’s actions goes in this incident”.
Claxon indicated, prior to this incident, he had made contact with BB. Claxon was asked to explain how he knew BB. Uh, basically same thing. Uh, she, AW had called, or her mother had called I believe during the previous incident and wanted a welfare check done ’cause she heard her, and Jacob have a disturbance over the phone. Uh, showed up, talked to AW, um, talked to Billy, both of them, interviewed them. Wanted to make sure nothing domestic occurred, no batteries occurred or anything like that. Jacob wasn’t there at the time, so, I couldn’t talk to him. But after I determined that no crime had occurred and they wanted some information as far as an ex-parte order, or Baker Act placed for Jacob, communicated that with them, and then left after that.” Claxon indicated when he arrived on the scene on 09/15/24, and saw BB, he knew who he was.
While walking by BB on 09/15/24, BB asked Claxon if his BWC was on, and Claxon replied, “Yeah, no, it’s just for decoration.” Claxon was asked why he made this statement. Claxon explained, “Um, I’ve had very cordial interactions, like I said before, with, uh, Billy and everything to where we joked back-and-forth. Um, so I didn’t think anything of it whenever I said it just because I had already built a rapport, I thought at least I had built a rapport with him on the previous call. In fact, with my previous interactions with him I joked in a similar manner with him from time-to-time, and everything throughout our conversation. And even at the end of that interaction he’s even thanked me for my professionalism. So, that led me to believe it’s perfectly okay to do this with somebody. I’d built a rapport with him. He won’t take offense to it. If anything, it may help our efforts to find out what happened here. Just based off of us making him feel more comfortable with our interactions with him.” Claxon indicated he did not say it to be disrespectful. He stated, “In fact, the quiet, uh, the opposite to where I’m tying to do it in order to help capitalize on that rapport, I’ve already built with him previously in the past”.
Claxon was asked to read General Order 3-1.10 Courtesy, Responsiveness, and Impartiality. After reading this policy, Claxon was asked if he felt he violated it with his interaction with BB. He responded, “No, I feel like I didn’t violate it”.
Claxon was asked to read General Order 3-1.14 Conduct Unbecoming. Claxon was asked after reading this policy, did he feel he violated it, “By not keeping with the highest standards of the law enforcement profession and bringing the department in disrepute, which reflected unfavorably upon you during your interaction with Billy Blume.” Claxon responded, “No”.
Lieutenant Wallace had nothing to add to this investigation. Claxon stated, “Uh, just once again that, uh, if he took offense to any of my comments or anything, didn’t mean anything by it. Like I said, I never raised my voice, um, never used profane language or anything like that. I don’t even believe I used an aggressive tone whenever I was talking to him. If anything, if it may have sounded short when I said that, or I didn’t directly walk over to him and talk to him directly, that’s just because I was passing in between two other parties involved in this incident and was just trying to get information so”.
I reiterated what Claxon expressed about meeting BB on a previous incident and felt like they had built a rapport with each other, Claxon stated, “Yeah, absolutely. And I, like I said, he let me know, as far as I could tell, that he was okay with the way I conducted myself before, which was similar, if not in the same manner that I did during this incident, by thanking me for my professionalism during this time. So, I thought it would be perfectly okay to do the same now”
Conclusion:
On 09/15/2024, Officers responded to a verbal altercation that involved Jacob Blume and his girlfriend AW. While on the phone with dispatch it appeared the altercation escalated, and dispatch placed the channel in emergency traffic.
Officer Garibaldi can be seen placing JB in handcuffs, after it appears JB gets into a verbal altercation with an unknown male who is on the front porch of the residence.
BB is in his driveway on the side of his residence recording officer’s actions. BB can be heard yelling, “Jacob, shut up. Shut your mouth.” JB can be heard apologizing to officers. Officer Vanderpool walks up. BB yells, “Don’t you see all these police around you son. They can’t wait to beat you son.” After making these comments Vanderpool’s BWC shows him walking over to BB, he is seated on a small bench on the side of the house.
Vanderpool askes BB, “You have anything to do with any of this.” BB states, “I literally came out here to y’all putting him in handcuffs, I don’t know what’s going on.” Vanderpool begins to walk away from BB, BB then yells, “They will beat you boy.” Vanderpool turns around and confronts BB. Vanderpool tells BB, “Hey, hey, you can go on in the house, go around.” BB says, “I have a first amendment right to sit on the side of my property.” Vanderpool states, “You don’t have the first amendment right to talk trash, to say you are going to beat people.” BB stated he wasn’t talking trash. Vanderpool told BB, he was recording him as well, and said, “If you are going to sit there and say you are going to beat people, you are going to leave the scene, because your antagonizing, and you’re going to go in the back of the car with him.” After this interaction Vanderpool walks away from BB. It appears while Vanderpool was talking with BB, Garibaldi overheard some of Vanderpool and BB’s exchange. Garibaldi asked Officer Marlowe for his handcuffs and Marlowe handed them to him. Garibaldi can be seen approaching BB while holding the handcuffs. Garibaldi says to BB, “You want to continue.” and points to his BWC and tells him he is recording as well. Garibaldi continues saying, “Are you going to run your mouth, or are you going to shut up?” BB says, “I’m not answering any questions.” After making this statement Garibaldi walks away and hands Marlowe’s handcuffs back to him.
Vanderpool walks back by BB and waves at him and says, “Hey, how you doing, no one cares that you’re record that.” It appears Vanderpool had his BWC recording during this exchange.
It appears BB edited his recording to make it sound like Vanderpool says, “Fuck you” and “Dick,” as he walks away from BB, however, Vanderpool’s BWC did not record these words. BB makes a statement that Vanderpool is unprofessional and states he is going to file a complaint on him.
During this call Officer Claxon walks by BB, and BB askes for his name, which Claxon provides. BB askes Claxon if his BWC is on, Claxon says, “Yeah, no, there just for decoration.” BB says to Claxon, “Very professional man, I’m reporting you to.” BB makes a statement while recording that he has a first amendment right to film on his property, and that the officers are threating to arrest him. He said, “That right was violated here today, by this cop right here (referring to Garibaldi) and the other one” (referring to Vanderpool).
At the end of the call BB asked Garibaldi for a supervisor. When Garibaldi asks BB why he needs a supervisor, BB says so he can make a complaint, because Garibaldi is unprofessional. BB tells Garibaldi it’s a first amendment violation for retaliating against him for filming them.
Garibaldi states he doesn’t care and says, “And for you being an adult, you act like a child.” Garibaldi’s BWC is muted during this exchange.
BB records this exchange on his phone (This can be heard on BB’s recording) Garibaldi admitted to making this statement. During his interview Garibaldi stated, “I don’t feel that I violated his rights. Now, could I have been a little more politically correct or less harsh? Absolutely, with my delivery. Now, the reason why I acted the way that I acted is because I don’t know who this guy is. Once again, when I got on scene and based on what I heard, the comments that he made, I thought that he was instigating people on the scene and he was threatening people, you know, to beat people up. That’s why I acted the way I acted.”
Garibaldi was asked to read General Order 3-1.1 Job Knowledge, Competency, and Performance. After reading this policy Garibaldi was asked if he felt he violated it with his interaction with BB. He stated, “No, ma’am.”
Garibaldi was asked to read General Order 3-1.10 Courtesy, Responsiveness, and Impartiality. After reading this policy Garibaldi was asked if he felt he violated it when he told BB, “Are you going to keep running your mouth, or are you going to shut up?” and referring to BB as a child. Garibaldi stated, “I don’t feel that I violated his rights. Now, could I have been a little more politically correct or less harsh? Absolutely, with my delivery. Now, the reason why I acted the way that I acted is because I don’t know who this guy is. Once again, when I got on scene and based on what I heard, the comments that he made, I thought that he was instigating people on the scene and he was threatening people, you know, to beat people up. That’s why I acted the way I acted.” When asked if he felt he violated this policy, Garibaldi responded “No, ma’am.”
Garibaldi was asked to read General Order 3-1.14 Conduct Unbecoming. After reading this policy Garibaldi was asked if he felt he violated this policy by not keeping with the highest standards of the law enforcement profession and bringing the department in disrepute. Garibaldi responded, “Yeah, once again, I mean, my delivery, I mean, could’ve been a little, a little bit less, you know, less harsh.” Garibaldi stated, “No.” he did not violate this policy.
Vanderpool continued with what occurred during the interaction with Billy Blume. Vanderpool explained, “He said something about beating somebody’s ass or something. I thought he was trying to antagonize whatever kid that, uh, the person that they had out there. So, I had an interaction with him telling him if he didn’t stop basically, I was gonna put him in the back of the car, cause I didn’t want him antagonizing that kid and causing a scene. And then I went to see what Smith was doing. Waked back by him (Billy Blume) and left.”
Vanderpool’s BWC captures him saying to BB, “If you’re gonna sit there and say you’re gonna beat people you are going to leave the scene because you are antagonizing, or you’re going to go to the back of the car with him.” BB complained, Vanderpool violated his First Amendment rights, by threatening to take him to jail over this statement. Vanderpool was asked to explain this comment to BB. Vanderpool stated, “I didn’t know, I didn’t know any of those people there.
All I knew is I went to an active, what I thought was an active violent scene according to the radio when I first pulled up. And then I, as I walked by him, he’s yelling something. I don’t remember everything he said about beating somebody’s ass or something like that. So, I told him that he needed to leave the scene or he’s gonna go into, I don’t think I said the back of the car with him. I may have, but I meant just in the back of the car until we’re done with the investigation, so he’s not interrupting and, and getting people all hyped up. I, I later found out that was his kid, and he was talking, telling his kid not to let the officer beat his ass or whatever, but I didn’t know that then”
Vanderpool was asked to read General Order 3-1.1 Job Knowledge, Competency, and Performance. After reading the policy Vanderpool was asked if he felt he violated it with during his interaction with BB. He stated, ” No.”
Vanderpool was asked to read General Order 3-1.14 Conduct Unbecoming. Vanderpool was asked if he felt he violated it, “By not keeping with the highest standards of the law enforcement profession and bringing the department in disrepute, which reflected unfavorably upon you during your interaction with Billy Blume.” Vanderpool stated, “No.”
While walking by BB on 09/15/24, BB asked Claxon if his BWC was on, and Claxon replied, “Yeah, no, it’s just for decoration.” Claxon was asked why he made this statement. Claxon explained, “Um, I’ve had very cordial interactions, like I said before, with, uh, Billy and everything to where we joked back-and-forth. Um, so I didn’t think anything of it whenever I said it just because I had already built a rapport, I thought at least I had built a rapport with him on the previous call. In fact, with my previous interactions with him I joked in a similar manner with him from time-to-time, and everything throughout our conversation. And even at the end of that interaction he’s even thanked me for my professionalism. So, that led me to believe it’s perfectly okay to do this with somebody. I’d built a rapport with him. He won’t take offense to it. If anything, it may help our efforts to find out what happened here. Just based off of us making him feel more comfortable with our interactions with him.” Claxon indicated he did not say it to be disrespectful. He stated, “In fact, the quiet, uh, the opposite to where I’m trying to do it in order to help capitalize on that rapport, I’ve already built with him previously in the past”
Claxon was asked to read General Order 3-1.10 Courtesy, Responsiveness, and Impartiality. After reading this policy, Claxon was asked if he felt he violated it with his interaction with BB. He responded, “No, I feel like I didn’t violate it.”
Claxon was asked to read General Order 3-1.14 Conduct Unbecoming. Claxon was asked after reading this policy, “By not keeping with the highest standards of the law enforcement profession and bringing the department in disrepute, which reflected unfavorably upon you during your interaction with Billy Blume.” Claxon responded, “No.”
Investigator’s Note: Billy Blume runs a YouTube channel Called Shields of Shame and has thousands of subscribers. OPS received several calls and emails in reference to this incident. Email were also sent to City Commissioners, and the Mayor’s Office.
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