INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A deputy working as a school resource officer resigned after an investigation revealed he had sexual relations with a school employee while on duty and inside his patrol vehicle, an internal affairs report shows.
Authorities said Indian River County sheriff’s deputy James Cousins was assigned to work a Vero Beach High School football game September 21 in Pahokee. After the game, Cousins intentionally misused his marked agency vehicle to drive a school employee – a woman – back to the high school, reports show.
During the investigation, the woman admitted to law enforcement she performed sexual acts on Cousins while the vehicle was in motion, reports show. The woman – who has known Cousins since the beginning of the school year – also said the former deputy sent her sexually explicit pictures of himself.
Cousins denied the allegations against him, reports show. Cousins told investigators he had the woman ride home with him because “he was tired and wanted somebody to chat with to keep him from dozing off,” authorities said.
Investigators said Cousins violated three agency policies regarding unbecoming conduct and neglect of duty offenses. Cousins – who worked as a school resource officer at the high school – resigned Dec. 7 from the sheriff’s office as authorities searched for evidence regarding his involvement with the woman.
The allegations led the woman to lose her position with the school band, authorities said.
The incident came to light after the woman’s husband confronted Cousins over the phone, and then contacted law enforcement. Cousins replied to the husband, “I’m sorry,” reports show.
The woman told staff members that her “marriage was in jeopardy” and that she was having regrets about what happened, authorities said.
Deputies in November began investigating complaints of inappropriate sexual contact between Cousins and the woman. Cousins was assigned to work security for the school’s band the day of the incident.
The school’s band director, Page Howell, told the principal, Shawn O’Keefe, that he knew the woman rode with Cousins after the game instead of riding the bus with students, reports show. Howell said it was not an issue from the school’s standpoint because there were enough adult chaperones.
Another deputy who worked at the game told investigators he had no knowledge of Cousins giving the woman a ride in his patrol vehicle. The deputy told investigators, “it is not standard practice for a deputy to transport a civilian back (using) their patrol vehicle,” reports show.
The woman admitted to deputies she had sexual relations with Cousins a second time in late September at his home, reports show.
Cousins was hired by the agency in March 2016 with an annual salary of $42,328, sheriff’s officials said.