Nov. 30--BROOKSVILLE -- Ed Serrano served his country in Iraq and has earned a stack of certifications and commendations throughout his law enforcement career.
In Serrano's latest evaluation, he scored outstanding or very good in all but one category. He's never scored below satisfactory in any category in any evaluation since he was hired 11 years ago, according to his personnel file.
During the past seven months, Serrano has had three complaints filed against him, all of which were unfounded. The complaints came from a felony suspect, a concerned mother and a subordinate.
The latest allegations against Serrano only add to the up-and-down reputation of the city's most visible traffic enforcer.
"He is respectful 24/7," one resident wrote in a commendation letter six years ago. "Officer Serrano is true to his calling."
The same resident wrote Serrano was "courteous" and "dedicated." Not long afterward, he was promoted to sergeant.
Twice Serrano had to take a leave of absence because his Army reserve unit was deployed to Iraq -- once in 2006 and again in 2008.
Following his first tour, he was profiled in a story in Hernando Today, at which time then-Chief Ed Tincher said he was "glad to have (Serrano) back" because motorists were resorting to their old habits along Candlelight Boulevard, North Avenue and U.S. 41.
He received a written commendation from a state senator after the article was published.
Serrano has focused on motorist safety since his hiring date and he's received praise from residents who live along some of the city's busiest and most dangerous roads.
In his own application, Serrano said one of his greatest strengths was his emphasis on being a team player. Year after year, he receives high marks from his supervisors for his interpersonal skills.
However, at least two Brooksville police officers have complained about Serrano's attitude and one went so far as to accuse him of causing a "hostile work environment."
Two months ago, Officer Erwin Evelyne filed a formal complaint, which led to an internal affairs investigation against Serrano.
Evelyne accused Serrano of refusing to respect him in spite of his years of experience with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Transportation. He said Serrano would routinely relegate him to "rookie" status during his 16 months of supervised field training.
Serrano "belittled" him after Evelyne wrote a parking citation and told him he showed "poor judgment."
Once when Serrano took temporary command of a night patrol squad, he "treated the squad as if we were children by telling us that no one is allowed to come to the office, use the bathroom or grab a bite to eat without notifying him first," Evelyne wrote in his complaint.
Evelyne said he heard comments from fellow officers from day one about Serrano. They told him he should "try and have as little contact with him as possible."
Evelyne cited other examples of Serrano's perceived belligerent behavior, alleging he would eagerly embarrass him in front of his peers and the public and would refuse to listen to his explanations during closed-door meetings.
"This is not a 'bash on Sgt. Serrano letter' to try and get (him) reprimanded or terminated," Evelyne wrote. "I feel that Sgt. Serrano lacks proper supervision skills and the ability to communicate effectively with the members of the department."
In a response dated Nov. 1, Capt. Rick Hankins did not sustain the allegation that Serrano contributed to a hostile work environment, but did side with Evelyne on some of the details listed in his complaint.
In February 2003, one police officer described a feud between him and Serrano that nearly escalated to fisticuffs.
Kris McRae responded to a call along with Serrano, who had told him he was still irked by a confrontation the two had 12 days earlier.
During the call, McRae said Serrano questioned everything he did and in front of residents and told him he would "10-56" with him after the call to "settle (our) differences."
A 10-56 is police code for suicide.
After the call, the two men met at another location and he noticed Serrano was wearing a pair of gloves. McRae interpreted that to mean Serrano was ready for a fight.
McRae wrote in a letter to his supervisor that Serrano told him "his badge was not stopping him" from settling scores.
McRae submitted a request to work a different shift so he wouldn't have to deal with Serrano.
Nothing in Serrano's personnel file suggested either man was reprimanded. Tincher, who retired in 2007, was still the chief at the time.
In April, a fraud suspect filed a complaint against Serrano alleging he violated his rights.
Serrano was exonerated.
In October, a local mother complained Serrano endangered her 16-year-old daughter when he failed to contact her or the girl's father after the teen's truck was towed at 4 a.m.
Serrano spoke to the girl and let her leave with an 18-year-old who was a "known drug dealer," the mother wrote in her complaint.
She also said Serrano was rude to her when she confronted him at the police station the following morning.
"He made me feel like the criminal," the mother wrote. "I expected to be treated with reasonable courtesy and respect and I received the exact opposite."
The allegation was not sustained.
Copyright 2011 - Hernando Today, Brooksville, Fla.
