A sheriff’s deputy has resigned amid an internal affairs investigation into claims about his actions, authorities said.
Deputy James Cousins – who worked as a school resource officer at Vero Beach High School – recently resigned from the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, said spokesman Maj. Eric Flowers and sheriff’s officials. Flowers could not immediately release further details on the case because it remains an active investigation.
This is the second incident in three months regarding a sheriff’s deputy resigning from the agency while authorities launched an internal affairs investigation into complaints made against them. In October, Deputy Whitney Marion, 27, of Okeechobee, left the sheriff’s office after an investigation revealed she had inappropriate contact – including several phone sex conversations – with inmate Michael Gonzalez, 28, at the county jail.
For the more recent case, Flowers said the investigation will be complete either Friday or Monday of next week. Cousins was hired by the sheriff’s office in March 2016 with an annual salary of $42,328, sheriff’s officials said.
Further details on Cousins and the case were not immediately available.