Law enforcement: What does it mean

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Putnam deputy resigns under investigation
Internal affairs inquiry confirmed allegations of deceit
By Jim Schoettler Story updated at 1:53 AM on Saturday, Apr. 25,


A Putnam County Sheriff's Office detective has resigned during an internal investigation into allegations that he was untruthful while under oath during a drug trafficking trial, the Sheriff's Office said today in a news release

Richard Campbell resigned on April 14, five days after the circuit court trial. The internal investigation began when Campbell was accused of violating a Sheriff's Office general order about willful departure from the truth while giving testimony, the release said.

The investigation revealed that Campbell and another deputy were outside the courtroom after the other deputy testified. In violation of the judge's sequestration rule, Campbell discussed the other deputy's testimony with him, the Sheriff's Office said.

When Judge Ed Hedstrom learned of the violation, he called each deputy into the courtroom separately. The deputy who testified admitted to the violation, but Campbell denied the conversation took place, the release said.

Sheriff's Office Chief of Staff Rick Ryan suspended Campbell on April 9 after learning about the violation and the internal investigation began. The investigation was completed the day after Campbell resigned. It concluded that Campbell had committed the violation of Sheriff's Office policy.

Criminal charges against Campbell are pending a review of the case by the State Attorney's Office. The news release did not say how the incident impacted the trial.

Campbell had been a deputy with the Sheriff's Office since July 2003.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/crime/2009-04-24/story/putnam_deputy_resigns_under_investigation