![Mark Sousa, left, and Laura Gadson. (FCSO and © FlaglerLive)](https://i0.wp.com/flaglerlive.com/wp-content/uploads/sousa-gadson.jpg?resize=650%2C426&ssl=1)
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office fired detention deputy Mark Sousa two weeks ago after Sousa violated the terms of his six-month probation. He’d nearly been fired in March after an investigation found he’d reported to work drunk, but was severely disciplined instead and given a chance to save his job.
In March he was suspended without pay for a month, removed from certain choice duties, required to serve six months’ probation and submit to random drug and alcohol testing. But the Sheriff’s Office discovered a picture of Sousa drinking in a bar and making a gesture the agency interpreted to be obscene.
According to an internal investigation report completed the day of Sousa’s firing, fellow-detention deputy Laura Gadson had posted the March 28 picture on Instagram, featuring herself, Sousa, and two other detention deputies at Farley’s, the bar at European Village. The picture was taken just hours after the article about Sousa’s suspension had appeared (with Gadson coincidentally featured in a picture at the jail, alongside Sheriff Staly). Gadson told a commander investigating the matter she did not think the picture “would not be or that it would be an issue.” She’d been under the impression that her Instagram account was set to private. It wasn’t.
The hashtag was #NoLeoLeftBehind, after a shirt Gadson was wearing that night. “Detention Deputy Mark Sousa is pictured with a glass in his hand that appears as alcohol and his middle finger pointed up resting on his chin,” the report states. The middle finger on the glass was also extended. It was Sousa’s birthday, or at least the celebration of his birthday. Other deputies there confirmed to an investigator that everyone was drinking alcohol. Sousa subsequently told an investigator the apparent gesture had not been intentional. “I can see how it can be perceived the wrong way now but it really had no meaning whatsoever, we were all joking around the whole night and silly poses and stuff,” Sousa told an investigator. He described the gesture as an inside joke, more as scratching one’s chin rather than flipping the bird.
A Sheriff’s Office policy requires deputies to uphold agency decorum even when their images appear on social media, “and that any comments, activity or behavior that could bring discredit or create an unfavorable view of the agency, individual or administration may not be protected speech and could subject you to disciplinary action up to and including termination.” The policy is overly broad and undefined for a public agency, and as such may not survive a court challenge–as a federal appeals court ruling in a similar case suggested less than two years ago. Private companies have far greater leeway to impose speech restrictions, but so do public agencies, if on narrow grounds, and both do so routinely.
It’s not clear how Sousa’s gesture brings discredit on the agency as opposed to, say, the photographer, or Sousa’s friends, or the bar. But the investigation’s finding is unequivocal: the picture, the investigation found, “does perceive offens[ive] behavior that discredits the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.”
Laura Kruger, a civilian classification officer in the Flagler County Sheriff’s court and detention division and a 14-year veteran of the agency, had been at work the morning of Jan. 29, when Sousa walked in at 6:30, and she first noticed something was off about him. She then concluded he’d been drinking. It took some persistence with Kruger supervisors but she eventually got them to take action. The supervisors concluded Sousa had come to work drunk, and issued the disciplinary measures.
Gadson, employed at the Sheriff’s Office singe April 2015, subsequently sent Kruger an email, calling her a “Okay Great Rat,” then said it’d been a typo generated by autocorrect: she’d only meant to say “Okay Great” in reply to a work email. She apologized to Kruger twice in writing and once in person. Kruger did not report her, though supervisors found out about it and questioned her. Her explanation was accepted and a finding of violation in that regard was not sustained. But the charge of unbecoming conduct was sustained over her posting the image on Instagram.
Sheriff’s policy also addresses alcohol. Employees are not prevented from drinking off-duty, but they are required to refrain from drinking “to the extent that it results in offensive behavior which discredits the agency, or renders the personnel unfit to report for their next regular tour of duty.”
The violation would normally result in a minor disciplinary issue. But since Sousa was on probation, it was grounds for termination, and he was fired.
“This is an unfortunate situation and I am extremely disappointed in his actions,” said Undersheriff Jack Bisland. “This employee was given a second chance by Sheriff Staly to turn his life around and it is truly a shame that he decided to throw his career away. We will not tolerate employees that chose to bring dishonor and discredit to the Sheriff’s Office or tarnish the badge.”
The agency issued a release on the disciplinary actions this evening, immediately after 5 p.m., as it was the last day when Sousa could appeal his firing.
Anonymous says
Why? The man didn’t appear to be breaking any laws. He isn’t the only officer that has a drink. He isn’t the only officer that has erected his middle finger. Was the pose really of the office flipping a bird or just a a similarity? I don’t think any employer has the right to fire someone for what is on social media if what they are doing is legal. This reeks of a Sheriff who was going to get rid of this employee and was looking for a reason. The man needs to appeal his firing and get his job reinstated. What he does on his time off duty is his business and not that of FCSO.
gmath55 says
I see an appeal for Mark Sousa firing. He will be back as detention deputy within a year. Maybe not at Flagler jail but somewhere else.
Conner says
These days they do. Many professional jobs have you sign a social media agreement in order to work for an employer.
Richard says
Social media has certainly taken its toll in the new world of technology. I wonder what the next 50 years will bring. Glad I won’t be around to find out now being in my “Golden Years”.
William says
Ya I mean why firebhim. He only showed up for a job where people’s life’s are in your hand and you carry a gun under the influence of alcohol.
And when they told him to keep your job you have to stop drinking for 6 mo and he can’t wven do that. Sounds like someone has a drinking problem. Good riddens.
Otto P. says
Mr. Anonymous you are quite out of touch, getting fired over social media posts is very common these days. This is standard.
KathieLee4 says
This is a joke . He puts up his middle finger in a picture and fired but when he was drunk at work he gets a suspension.. I can see the logic in this , not …. How many other officers have pictures on social media that shouldn’t be there .. Mark should of been fired for being drunk at work not because of a post …
Fuentes says
He is a jail deputy, they do not carry firearms.
Gkimp says
Looks like he had every opportunity to straighten himself out.
Blade says
Anonymous……. If you have to ask that question, it clear you have no idea of professional decorum!!!!
Unfortunate says
Sounds to me like someone had it out for him. Hope he appeals it and gets some justice.
LMAO says
Dig deeper, you will find many more good ole boys, that believe the law only pertains to people on the outside of the inner circle. Is anyone surprised by this? Does anyone believe he was sober, when he wrecked his motorcycle at 2 A.M.? Does anyone believe that it was not covered up because of his buddy’s that responded to the scene? Does anyone believe he took an Uber to work, the morning he showed up to the Green roof in drunk? Lets not follow procedure, because of who he is!!!
Anonymous says
This guy came to work drunk. I’m pretty sure he didn’t walk to work. So the question sheriff rick Staley is why wasn’t he arrested for dui? If I or anyone else would have been caught driven drunk we would be visiting your famous blue roof inn. Are your deputies above the law🤔? This just weeded out scum. I guess one scum at a time.
Anonymous says
If a buddy covered up for him and it is known, he should be fired!
LAMO says
What about that auto correct, in the e-mail? I do have to say, I’m impressed, and somewhat shocked, Flagler Live is putting this in the public eye. Keep up the good work, @Flagler Live.