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 3RD 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.
