A Florida sheriff's deputy has been fired after he allegedly took partially naked photos of himself while on the job.
Indian River County spokesman Eric Flowers said in a news release that 18-year Indian River County Sheriff's Office veteran Lt. Macen LeVan was fired July 19 for "willful neglect of official duties".
LeVan took about 120 photos of himself partially naked while on duty at the county courthouse in Vero Beach, authorities say.
Flowers said the agency's internal affairs investigation began in April after an employee complaint on another matter.
As part of the investigation, LeVan’s agency cell phone was taken to look for some specific text messages.
“While we were looking for those messages, we came across a number of inappropriate photos, specifically some that were taken of him, of himself, while on duty in the courthouse in his office,” Flowers said. “Obviously, that became a concern as he’s supposed to be watching the courthouse, he’s supposed to be protecting and managing the courthouse and he was taking inappropriate photos of himself while he was in his office.”
A total of five allegations were sustained against LeVan.
Three relate to using his agency cell phone to photograph his genitals while on duty; one relates to abuse of sheriff's equipment by using his agency cell phone to take about 125 explicit photos and videos; and one relates to communicating with a potential witness in an administrative investigation.
Flowers says LeVan was sending the photos to consenting adults and that there is no criminal investigation related to the case.