Coconut Creek cop accused of robbing drivers during traffic stops
COCONUT CREEK – Police have arrested one of their own, charging a city cop with stealing from people he was supposed to be protecting.

Tony Avello, police spokesman, said Officer Michael Dunsavage was arrested on a single count of grand theft on Monday morning after he surrendered to authorities at the county jail in Fort Lauderdale. Bond was set at $1,000.

Dunsavage, 26, a Coconut Creek police officer since July 2002, was placed on administrative leave at the time of the initial complaint in July. He resigned from the force on Aug. 11, Avello said in a prepared statement.

"These actions are unacceptable and not tolerated," Police Chief George Raggio said in a prepared statement. " Our department has a long history of impeccable community service. Our focus is to see that Dunsavage is held accountable for his criminal behavior."

According to the criminal complaint, Dunsavage around 6 a.m. on July 15 was on duty in uniform and driving a marked unit when he conducted two traffic stops, Avello said. Dunsavage allegedly took both drivers' wallets and when they were returned money totaling $590 was missing -- $390 from one victim and $200 from the other.

Avello said investigation revealed two more alleged incidents in which Dunsavage was accused to stealing $180 total -- $100 from one and $80 from another.

Photographic lineups were presented to the victims and Dunsavage was positively identified as being the individual who stopped them and took their money, Avello said.

Prosecution of the case is expected to be handled by Broward Assistant State Attorney John Hanlon.

 

That's so sad. It's the 1% of cops which gives LEO's a bad name. We're all brought up to respect the law and police officers but when they can't even uphold their own morals... Bleh.

Cheers,
Kermee

 

Not to say there aren't good cops now - or that there weren't crooked cops then - but for the most part, "to serve and protect" is an idealistic relic of the past. I find that as time goes on, many police forces have transformed from their former roles as community caretakers into state-sponsored bullies. How many of you get nervous whenever you see cops around, even if you aren't committing any criminal offenses at the moment?

I can remember the stories my dad would tell me about how the cops would give him and his friends rides home if they caught them drinking (underage) out in the woods. Today, you'd be harassed to an abusive level and probably arrested for doing the same things.

 

Another one bites the dust

 

Ftp.........

 

Who the hell steals petty sums of cash when you have a stable decent paying job?

That guy has issues.

 

They have the right to ask for your license & registration papers but not your wallet ? At least take the cash out first . . . remember not to hand over your whole wallet next time a cop stops you . . .

 

I read in the Miami Herald he earned $45,800 a year and had been with them since 2002.

 

I would like to see the CCRB complaints and personnel file on this cop. I bet it is full of misdeeds. I am sure there is a sleuth of false arrest cases as a result of this moron. There are some real criminals hiding behind shields

 

$1,000 bond for him. I bet a regular person that would do that, the bond would be god knows how much. What bs.

 

I know someone who worked for the Broward Sherrif's Dept for 30 years and said it was more corrupt than anyone would ever imagine and the corruption/threats is the reason they retired. I am quickly losing respect for all Florida cops now. Three weeks ago when I was moving here, my mom got pulled over on the Turnpike, she was going about 75 or 76, and the cop accused her of going 102mph in order to get a $300+ fine out of her. He wouldn't let me speak at all, so I wasn't able to ask to see the radar. I've heard of other stories very similar to this by other people here in FL.

 

The pig got what was coming to him

 

Welcome to Florida, Home of the......hell, welcome to the US, home of the Corrupt police force. They have severely changed from their original purpose...

 

Im not surprised this happened, like most have said there are plenty of corrupt cops. There are still alot of good ones, but it seems there are more and more of these stories all the time

 

No..that's part of the problem. It DOESN'T pay decently. While, of course, that doesn't justify robbing people, many police officers are grossly underpaid considering the work they do for the community and the risks they have to take. They often end up earning a lot more than they actually make.

And STABLE? A police officer's job is anything BUT stable. When a police officer leaves his or her house at the start of the shift, the spouse does not know whether he or she will be a widow or widower at the end of the day.... officers are often killed in action. And then..assuming you do survive from one day to the next.....you work alternating day and night shifts one week to the next that screws up your body clocks and metabolism.