Two months after Deputy Chief Milo Thornton was suspended with pay, he still hasn’t returned to duty at the Sheriff’s Office, where the Internal Affairs division launched an investigation into allegations that he created a hostile work environment at the County Jail.
The specifics of the allegations, however, remain a mystery – because Thornton isn’t allowed to comment on his suspension, and the Sheriff’s Office has refused to even acknowledge the investigation.
In fact, Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Debbie Carson didn’t respond to multiple phone and text messages left by Vero Beach 32963 the past two weeks seeking an update on Thornton’s status.
Since Thornton was still suspended as this week began, though, it’s fair to assume the agency’s investigation has uncovered evidence it views as sufficient to prevent him from returning to his job.
But make no mistake: With Sheriff Eric Flowers’ credibility already on shaky ground in the wake of his publicly exposed and acknowledged marital infidelity, the evidence gathered during this investigation better be overwhelming and significant.
Indeed, Flowers will have plenty of explaining to do if we learn the initial allegations weren’t meaty enough to warrant immediate suspension.
You don’t bench the No. 3 in your agency’s hierarchy on hearsay about some minor violation of regulations. You don’t let the highest-ranked Black law-enforcement officer in the county’s history twist in the wind for more than eight weeks unless you’re pursuing serious charges.
You don’t act hastily, especially when you’re confronting uncorroborated and possibly bogus allegations that could diminish the stature and damage the reputation of someone who has earned the community’s respect and, in many cases, admiration.
Unless, of course, that’s what you’re trying to do.
Certainly, the timing of Thornton’s suspension on Jan. 26 is curious, coming just days after Flowers learned his own extramarital affair was no longer a secret – news that soon made headlines.
Even as Flowers’ attempts at damage control continue – he stars as “your Indian River County sheriff” in every agency-produced, social-media video on the latest shooting, arrest and unsolved crime – Flowers can’t help but be concerned about the dent the affair left on his prospects for re-election.
Thornton’s suspension also came only three weeks after Vero Beach 32963 published a story about the steps he had taken to vastly improve health-care services for inmates and reduce costs since assuming management of the County Jail in January 2021.
Is it really a reach to wonder whether a politically wounded Flowers saw Thornton as a potential challenger in the 2024 race for sheriff, and had him suspended in an effort to stain his record?
Local law-enforcement sources have told me that Thornton, despite being a member of the Sheriff’s Office’s command staff, had never been embraced as a confidant in Flowers’ inner circle.
Even more curious was Flowers’ decision to avoid a direct confrontation with Thornton, and delegate to Undersheriff Thom Raulen the unpleasant task of telling the deputy chief he was suspended.
The reason for all this is unclear, but, according to sources, some of Flowers’ closest advisors had warned the sheriff that Thornton will eventually run against him – possibly in two years – and shouldn’t be entrusted with information that could be used during a future campaign.
To be sure, Thornton is popular among some of the county’s power brokers and has the makings of a formidable candidate, but he has said nothing publicly about running.
Might this suspension, along with the circumstances surrounding it, prompt Thornton to step into the political ring against Flowers sooner rather than later?
The outcome of the Sheriff’s Office’s investigation could impact any such decision, especially if the findings prompt Flowers to take severe disciplinary action, such as termination, suspension without pay or reduction in rank.
Not knowing the extent and credibility of the evidence produced, however, it’s difficult to predict how Thornton would respond.
The same is true if the findings reveal only a minor infraction that doesn’t result in any substantial penalty, though Thornton surely would wonder why he needed to stay home the past two months.
The most intriguing outcome would involve the Sheriff’s Office – after eight weeks of digging, weighing evidence and then presenting to Thornton the case against him – ultimately exonerating him.
That could happen.
As of Monday, Thornton hadn’t yet formally responded to the allegations. But he’ll get that opportunity, possibly as soon as this week, during an interrogation by the Sheriff’s Office’s internal affairs investigators.
Under the Florida Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights, Thornton may retain legal counsel who would be present during the session, which must be recorded and preserved as a public record.
It’s possible, of course, the Sheriff’s Office could dismiss the case after the interrogation, if Thornton successfully rebuts the allegations.
But what then?
Does Thornton simply go back to work at the Sheriff’s Office, which surely would be an uncomfortable place, and forget how shabbily he was treated?
Does Flowers concoct some excuse about receiving bad information and, because of Thornton’s high profile, offer another public apology as he did for his affair?
Or is their relationship irreparably damaged – to the point where Thornton takes Flowers to court, and then runs against him in 2024?
You’ve got to think that last scenario is a possibility, even if the Sheriff’s Office upholds the allegations and Flowers takes some type of disciplinary action against Thornton.
Either way, though, eyebrows will be raised and, as is typical of today’s America, people will take sides.
That’s not good for Flowers.
At the very least, regardless of whether Thornton is on the ballot, more than a few county voters might remember what happened in January 2022 and find the timing of Thornton’s suspension too convenient for Flowers.
That’s even worse.