3 OFFICERS DISCIPLINED FOR DRINKING ON THE JOB

TWO CHARLOTTE COUNTY DEPUTIES AND A SERGEANT WERE DISCIPLINED FOR DRINKING ON THE JOB AFTER THEY DRANK BEER WHILE RETURNING FROM A FUNERAL SERVICE IN TAMPA LAST MONTH FOR THE TWO OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.  ACCORDING TO A REPORT IN THE SUN, DEPUTIES PAUL DAVIS AND RUSSELL EPEARDS AND SERGEANT PHILIP SCHOFIELD ALL ADMITTED IN AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION TO DRINKING THE BEERS ON THE AFTERNOON OF JULY 3^RD AS THEY AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY HONOR GUARD RETURNED FROM A FUNERAL PROCESSION FOR TAMPA POLICE OFFICES JEFFREY KOCAB AND DAVE CURTIS.  SCHOFIELD RECEIVED THE HARSHEST DISCIPLINE, WHICH INCLUDED A DEMOTION TO CORPORAL AND A 48 HOUR SUSPENSION WITHOUT PAY, WHILE DAVIS WAS SUSPENDED FOR 42 HOURS WITHOUT PAY AND EPEARDS WAS HIT WITH A 24 HOUR SUSPENSION WITHOUT PAY.  ALL THREE WERE ALSO REMOVED FROM HONOR GUARD ASSIGNMENTS FOR A TIME, AND THEY WERE DOCKED COMPENSATION TIME THEY CLAIMED FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE DETAIL.