Officer seen on video feeding suspect resigns

The resignation letter, which was given to the Patrol Shift Commander, said: “I hereby resign for personal reasons effective immediately”.

One day before the completion of the Sarasota Police Department’s investigation into an officer’s alleged misconduct – and 15 minutes before his scheduled interview with internal affairs – Officer Andrew Halpin resigned from his position.

Halpin, who served the city since November. 1, 2006, was under investigation following the release of a video shot inside the Sarasota County Jail.

A Sarasota, Florida, cop seen on a video tossing peanuts at a handcuffed homeless man has resigned, officials said Tuesday.

The footage shows Milner trying to catch the peanuts in his mouth while Halpin laughs, and the handcuffed man crawling along the floor to eat the nuts that he missed off the ground as the officer kicks them closer to him.

The department says Chief Bernadette DiPino was made aware of the video on July 27 and placed Halpin on administrative leave while the incident was investigated.

Prisoner advocates are calling for the department to forward its investigation to the state attorney’s office for potential criminal charges, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported.

Police expect to complete the internal affairs probe on Wednesday.

“We take allegations of this matter seriously and this one incident does not reflect upon the professionalism of the men and women who work hard to uphold the public trust of the Sarasota Police Department”, said Chief Bernadette DiPino in the email.

An intoxicated homeless man had been arrested on a trespassing cost July 18. “We will continue to build and maintain trust with our citizens and community partners”, added DiPino.