Flagler County Sheriff’s detention deputy Cpl. Peter Descartes served a one-day suspension without pay last month following an internal investigation over allegations that he referred to a Black inmate by a racist slur in November. Descartes is himself Black, and denied using the term saying he used a different word that sounds similar.
Descartes will mark 18 years with the agency in November. He had previously been disciplined in 2018.
The complaint was filed by Christopher Brock, a 29-year-old Palm Coast resident who’d been jailed last August 27 on charges of trafficking cocaine, unlawful use of a two-way communication device and grand theft, all felonies. Last January Brock pleaded to the drug charges and was sentenced to three years in prison. He was transferred out of the county jail on Jan. 25 and is currently at Bay Correctional, a minimum-security prison in Panama City.
The incident involving Descartes took place on Nov. 20, when Brock was still at the county jail. According to an internal inquiry, Brock was in line for meal service that afternoon and requested a disposable cup. Descartes denied him, which means he got no drink. Brock allegedly called Descartes “Nasty,” and would later tell authorities it wasn’t the first time that Descartes had denied him a cup. He said he’d warned Descartes that he would write him up Descartes allegedly called him a “thirsty n…,” using the racial slur.
The incident was alleged to have been witnessed or overheard by four inmates. A commander interviewed all four. All four confirmed that Descartes had leveled the slur at Brock.
Descartes, when interviewed by an investigator, confirmed that an incident had taken place with Brock, but he said “he never uses that terminology and advised that he called Inmate Brock a ‘Thirsty Nucca.’ No further explanation was given at that time.” That was shortly after the incident. On Dec. 1, a commander requested that the complaint be forwarded to the agency’s Professional Standards division for an inquiry into unbecoming conduct. A week later, Chief Mark Strobridge authorized Detective Ryan Doyle, who usually conducts internal affairs investigation, to open an inquiry.
By mid-February, Descartes had signed a request for expedited discipline. The request he signed “specifies that he does not wish to contest the factual allegations made against him,” the inquiry found. Doyle interviewed him in late February. He did not deny that he prevented Brock from getting a drink, explaining that Brock had no cup to exchange, so would not get a drink for that reason. As Brock continued to banter about Descartes being nasty, “Descartes advised that he responded by saying, ‘Ya and you will be a thirsty knucka,'” according to the inquiry.
Descartes, the inquiry goes on, “explained the term and its origin by advising that it is a term that he uses with his family, nieces and nephews. Descartes further explained that the term ‘Knucka’ means knucklehead. Descartes immediately advised that he as a deputy knows that he should not refer to the inmates by anything other than their name and he acknowledged that he got caught up in the moment and knows his response was incorrect and regardless of what was actually said. He said there was a history of minor issues between him and Brock. “Descartes did not suggest that this was a vindictive and condemning complaint fabricated by Brock but Descartes did not discount that this could have been a motivating factor when breached by Detective Doyle,” the report states.
Descartes said “he wished that he could have had the opportunity to explain and inform Brock that he did not use the term described nor would he ever. Descartes advised that he too finds the term offensive and it is just not in his nature to use such a derogatory term.” The investigation concluded: “Descartes has taken accountability for his actions for engaging in an unprofessional verbal exchange while remaining adamant that he did not use” the more derogatory term and never would. “There is nothing in Descartes employment history to indicate that he has or does use profanity or racial slurs during the course of his duties or in his private life. Cpl. Descartes appears to be genuinely sincere in his response to these allegations and accepts responsibility for any discipline associated with these actions.” Doyle did not interview the other inmates.
Doyle’s report includes a research note about the term “nucca,” which he found on the web at the Urban Dictionary, including that definition in the report: “The word is used for a white person to call each other,” so as not to use the more racist term with the same alliteration.
The inquiry found Descartes to have violated two policies–unbecoming conduct band behavior and language. The latter requires sheriff’s employees to always, while on duty, “maintain command of temper, patience, and discretion. Employees shall refrain from using improper, obscene, profane, or insolent language.” Unbecoming conduct carries penalties ranging from suspension to termination. Violation of the behavior and language requirement carries penalties ranging from “any non-disciplinary action and/or 12 hours up to 24 hours of suspension.”
Descartes did not actually lose a work day, but had a day deducted from his accrued leave time after the notice of discipline was issued on March 12.
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Slap Pappy says
That is one tough, unforgiving, unappreciated and grossly underpaid job. Thank you Corporal for what you do.
I wonder if this were a white man calling another white man “kraccuh” if the white Sheriff and his white cronies would be so quick, eager and thorough in their diciplinary initiative.
The Geode says
You gotta be kidding me…
Anthony Macchia says
This deputy is an amazing individual. I’ve had the pleasure to work alongside of him. Always on time and never have I ever observed him act say or ever treated any one in a bad way!!!
This is pure act of hurting hard working people that have no choice to be nice to scum that have broken the law.
PalmCoasterer says
I thought that while an inmate may be incarcerated, they were to be presumed innocent until proven guilty? And yet in your own words, anyone in there is “scum that have broken the law” and is therefore automatically guilty in your eyes. I guess there wouldn’t be anything else to expect from disgraced ex-deputy Macchia.
Concerned Citizen says
And the issues with this agency keeps on mounting.
The Sheriff just demoted a long time Detective after being involved in a DV incident. But then turns around and suspends a Deputy over the supposed use of the N word. Wow double standards much?
You took the word of a long time Detective and trampled all over DV rights by cutting a favorite a break.But suspended a long service Deputy after an intensive investigation. All on the word of an inmate. OK then.
@ Sheriff Staly
Why aren’t you more consistent with your discipline? Why do you tout Domestic Violence as a lesser offense than the use of a word? Need to shape up your department and work on that ethical behavior.
FlaglerLive says
Based on the disciplines meted out, it is not accurate to consider the Amoy penalty lesser than that of Descartes. Joy was suspended without pay for two months, did not make back that pay when reinstituted, was demoted, lost his law enforcement authority and $8,000 a year in pay, is on a yearlong probation and would have to reapply as a deputy if he so chooses, once the probation term is over. Based on the conclusions of the Descartes inquiry, he was not found to have used the more derogatory term, but to have referred to an inmate by names other than his own. Contrary to Charlie Ericksen’s assertion above, the inquiry concluded on accepting Descartes’ explanation, not that of the inmate or the four witnesses.
Anti-1%er says
Peter Descartes would never use the N-word. The man doesn’t even use curse words, let alone racially derogatory words. And to enlighten those who may not know this already, “nucca” was a popular term back in the day for us gen-xers. For example, the very popular song, “Whattaman”, by Salt-n-Pepa uses the word nucca. To put it in context with the other lyrics, “knucklehead” would be the appropriate root word. It was a casual, slang word back then and there is nothing offensive about it. And shame on FCSO and Sheriff Staly for not giving credit to, nor believing an 18-year employee. 18 years at FCSO is more than a lifetime sentence with what the employees have to endure. Just goes to show that the Sheriff does not know his employees at all, or he is so worried about being politically correct and not upsetting an inmate, that he will hurt whoever to secure his reputation with his constituency. It’s all about the votes, the money and the ego. Power and control. And the fact that Cpl. Descartes chose to take the suspension, rather than fight it, does not speak to his guilt or innocence, but rather the culture of fear and intimidation at the FCSO.
Brian says
I agree 100% with Anti-1%er. I’ve known Peter for over 30 years and have never known him to curse or make disparaging remarks in conversation or otherwise.
The Geode says
HELL OUTTA HERE! He “would never use the N-word”? Apparently, you have never been to a black barbershop, cookout, or just around a group of blacks “shooting-da-shit” because I have NEVER met a black man under 40 who don’t say it “just because”. YOU might “clutch your pearls” and pretend that this word doesn’t exist (mostly in public but not amongst your like-minded friends).
Anti-1%er says
Cpl. Descartes is my friend. I’ve known him personally and professionally for over 10 years. I am certainly not naïve to the word, I simply choose not to use it. It is beyond disrespectful, mean, degrading and unnecessary. And, I hate to out both Cpl. Descartes and myself, but we are well over 40 years old. Ugh…where does the time go? But I digress. My point is, while a lot of people may use that word, Cpl. Descartes does not. He is respectful to all and just a really good person. I know some may say that doesn’t exist anymore, but that’s Pete, and anyone that knows Pete would agree.
Brian says
The disgruntled Bunnellion shows themselves once again!
Brian says
I notice the only time you have something favorable to add in your comments is when it come’s to your roots and peers in Bunnell. Other than that your constantly taking passive aggressive pop shots at those of us from originally form the North. Although many of us have lived since you were a toddler.
The Geode says
LOL. Your rant is convoluted and patently untrue. However, FEW “Northerners” have lived here since I was a toddler because I was here when Palm Coast was a gator-filled swamp. BTW – I prefer “aggressive-aggressive” over “passive-aggressive”. Nice chat, tho…
Charlie Ericksen Jr says
AHHH…Another incident , where the inmates eventually take over the jail..
This inmate is a recurrent attendee at the jail. and we accept “his word” over that of the jail employee..??? I’ll bet he’s bragging to all of his “buddies” in house and laughing.. What’s next??? Complaints, that the officer looked wrong at him….??? ,
We’ve hit a new low.
Wassss Uppppp says
So what’s wrong with using the term ” NUCCA ” ? He’s a Black man talking to another Black man. And YES the word NUCCA is used quite frequently now days by both Whites and Blacks.
The word NUCCA is used for a white person to call each other. if they say nig… they are racist, so white people call themselves nuccas. or at least round here.
Bill Hall says
Don’t get so upset my nickles. All good.
I know him says
In my younger years I stayed there a few times I remember when this officer first started. What a good man he is never have I heard him say anything to an inmate that would be considered derogatory. I remember having long talks with him on days I just wasn’t in a great mood always felt better afterwards. This is a crying shame that they will take the word of inmates over a veteran all about politics. Just goes to show the shariff knows nothing about his employees The Green Roof Inn what a laugh. So glad I left that town!!!
Ray W. says
I, like most of the commenters to this article, know Cpl. Descartes to be a personable and likeable corrections officer. Having read that he asked for an expedited review of the allegation filed against him increases my respect for him. The investigator assigned to the task found two policy violations, based on unbecoming conduct and behavior and on language. Cpl. Descartes acknowledged that use of the term “nucca” violated both policies and took his punishment, an eight hour suspension, taken from his accumulated leave. Given Cpl. Descartes’ acceptance of violation of policy, while I would have preferred a “non-disciplinary” use of a letter of reprimand, traditionally the first and lowest level of punishment for policy breaches, someone elected to suspend him, bypassing that lowest step.
For those who wonder how Concerned Citizen and Charlie Ericksen, Jr., can so seriously misread the article, please consider Thomas Reid’s concept of educability. A person is educable if they possess both of two qualities. They must possess veracity, which is the ability to speak, know and understand the truth about a subject matter. For example, if a person knows that 12 times 12 is 144, that person possesses veracity about the multiplication tables, but that doesn’t mean that person understands three dimensional calculus. By definition, only those present during an exchange between a corrections officer and an inmate can possess veracity about the encounter. All others are uneducated about the incident. Therefore, the only way a person can educate himself about the incident is through the second of Reid’s qualities, which is the ability to form credulity for another person who possesses the ability to speak, know and understand the truth about the matter. In Cpl. Descartes case, the report contains the information from which the uneducated can be educated. By forming credulity for the report and the reporter, the uneducated give credibility to the report and the reporter and can learn from the report and the reporter.
Here is the rub. If Concerned Citizen and Charlie Ericksen, Jr., decline to form credulity for the report or the reporter or, worse, if they refuse to form credulity for the report or the reporter, they allow themselves to be uneducable, no matter how many times they read the FlaglerLive article. Being uneducable, they can derive any meaning they want from the article even if it is the incorrect meaning. To drive the point home, I repeat FlaglerLives’ point. The report on the incident reflects that the claims of the five inmates were not accepted by the reviewer. Cpl. Descartes’ explanation was the accepted account of the incident. Charlie Ericksen, Jr., is simply wrong in claiming we have reach a new low, but his desire to defend his conclusion may keep him from becoming educable. Cpl. Descartes’ did not use the “N” word, so Concerned Citizen is also wrong, but he, too, may be so invested in his narrative that he may not be educable.
Thomas Reid’s concept of educability was the basis of the Common Sense movement that swept through Western Europe and the colonies at the critical time when our founding fathers decided to rebel against English dominion over the colonies. To our founding fathers, reason drove their decisions; it was desirable to be educable. They debated everything and accepted different points of view, but they understood than many were uneducable and that the uneducable could be easily led astray by those who hoped to use them for personal gain. This is one of many reasons why our founding fathers insisted on checks and balances in the Constitution. They hoped the Constitution would provide a framework through which virtuous citizens would be promoted into government, but they knew unreasoning people could be used by those attempting to seize power. In sum, they hoped for a future of virtuous leaders but feared mob rule driven by demagogues.
Concerned Citizen says
You were so busy judging that you missed my point. I was defending the Corporal because I felt his punishment unjust. The Sheriff let an issue get dictated by an inmate use intensive resources. Then metted out an unfair discipline. All of this after cutting a break to a long time sworn employee who committed a much more grievous offense.
But then according to your holier than thou narrative I’m uneducated and ignorant. Even after spending over 20 years of my life in the Military and Public Safety. And obtaining a bachelors degree along the way.
I also stand by what I said as it is well documented. This agency continues to have serious issues. And they still maintain accreditation. That holds them to higher standards along with the oaths they took to do a job.
Ray W. says
Do you really stand by your original position that the investigator accepted the words of five inmates, who claimed they heard Cpl. Descartes use the “N” word? That is exactly the position I thought might happen. The report accepts Cpl. Descartes’ using the term “nucca”, not the “N” word. As an aside, I do not dispute your point that the agency may have serious issues, which would provide you with plenty of justification for your indignation.
I applaud you for your educational achievements and respect your years of service to this country. Please accept that I never stated that you were not well educated. I stated that you may be uneducable on this particular issue, which is why I used the point that a person can speak, know and understand the multiplication tables, but still not be able to comprehend three-dimensional calculus. I accept that I can be uneducable on certain issues, for a number of reasons. For example, until a court issues a ruling that voting machines switched votes, after conducting a full and fair trial on the issues, I really do not follow claims that voting machines switched votes to the Biden column. Let Trump take his claims to court and prove them. If he proves the claims to be true, then we have serious issues with voting machines. Until then, the machine-generated results have been certified by the various states and the electoral college votes tabulated and entered into the congressional record. Finality as a matter of constitutional requirement has already been achieved and Biden was duly elected by the citizens of enough states to be sworn in as president. Educability is not necessarily the same thing as educational achievement. Indeed, it can be a significantly different point. I expand my argument to state that a highly educated person can still be uneducable if he or she cannot or will not will not form credulity for a source of information. Therefore, he or she cannot learn from the source of information, despite his or her having attained an extraordinary level of educational achievement. Those who refuse to listen to anything a politician belonging to an opposing party says are, by definition, uneducable. Those who refuse to accept as true any news printed by the Washington Post are, by definition, uneducable.
Former Inmate says
I am a female who unfortunately had my fair share of time @ Green Roof Inn.. Currently it has been years & I am a very productive member to society, happy, sober & living a great life! Nor do I want any backlash for opening up to these people! I am proud of who I am & what I over came!
Anyways what I am getting at is Cpl. DeScartes even to female inmates was outstanding! He respected each & every one of us! Always made sure we were being treated by even fellow officers with dignity & respect! Made sure we always had what is supposed to be had in that place! He always walked in with a hello & respected nod! Would come in from time to time with a motivational speech to uplift us the best he could!
I am disappointed at this inmate making this claim because honestly he only did it because he didnt get his way! Listen I have been in there & witnessed more than multiple times where an inmate doesnt get there way & immediately starts writing that officer up! For what?!?! That is someone’s lively hood, career etc… And it was always done spitefully!!! Never was it an actual legitimate reason! And to be pretty fair I can honestly say every single CO except for 1 female CO spoke to us, acted accordingly to us & treated us with the utmost respect! I have said it even in my worst days that the CO’s at Green Roof Inn r the most respectful officers I have ever had to come in contact with!!
And believe it or not when I see some of them outside of there now I THANK THEM!! Because every time I had to go in there they always knew I was someone better & knew it was in mean & treated me with more than just respect! So I do tell people that they are some of the people who helped me get better, who helped me be the me I was always supposed to be and I will always have a special place in my heart for them!
But for Cpl Descartes that should just show everyone what kind of man he is!! He didnt sugar coat shit! He immediately apologized, took his write up, did whatever he had to do as he should… But I do not think people bashing this great persons name because ur a little baby who didnt get ur way is in any way ok! Its so unfortunate to be in any kind of law enforcement these days!!
The world gets scarier day by day & its like you cant even talk anymore! Cause ur damned if u do damned if u dont!!!!
Doesnt pay to be nice anymore 😕
Shark says
Eighteen years and still a CPL. Are they ever going to promote him????????????
Lance Carroll says
I have had personal contact with Officer Discartes in his professional environment. Furthermore, I am not a fan of malicious law enforcers. Mr. Descartes is of the utmost, caring and polite corrections officers that work their daily lives within the boundaries of The Flagler County Jail. There are nasty bullies that hold positions as correctional officers within Flagler County Jail. Officer Descartes is no bully and is a shining light in a very dark place.
I would bet my life on it. As for some of the other commentors on this thread, not everyone that winds up jailed are scumbags. Some folks that wind up in jail are victims of a failed and slanted system that is run by egotistical scumbags that, somehow, wound up making very important decisions based on their own failures and failure to realize the truth.
Sincerely,
Lance Carroll
Palm Coast Citizen says
Are we commenters making a mountain out of a mole hill here? There had to be an investigation. He was sorta kinda suspended for a day because his professionalism was sorta questioned by an inmate.
There. Folks are responding as if this officer was fined, demoted, then fired or something. It seems the action is appropriate given the circumstances. The one-time behavior kind of hovers right at the line of something that shouldn’t be acceptable, but it’s not fully over the line. It seems the officer has a good reputation and the investigation revealed what he himself admitted: he got a little caught up in the moment.
They gave him a snap back–“don’t let it happen again,” and things will continue on, no?
Agkistrodon says
I have heard worse from rappers over loud stereos in cars, with all the occupants singing right along. Funny how many offended by this word will, celebrate, buy, and emulate those who use this word in their music, and then get offended when someone uses it in a way they don’t like. How about not using it. As far as what the deputy said, I have heard that term many times in the military. It is short for knucklehead. I hope my comment doesn’t offend anyone, but if it does, I am offended that you seem to think I care if you are offended, I don’t. Your happiness is not my responsibility, and I don’t care about your sensitivities.
Sick of the Crap says
Never have I heard this man say an ill word. The more law enforcement gets mistreated, the less of them we will have. Keep it up and we will ALL pay the price. Did it ever occur to you that maybe, just maybe this wonderful, fine up standing inmate was not telling the truth and just had his panties twisted because he was pissed off that he was sitting in jail. Anyone that knows Officer Descartes knows he wouldn’t say such a thing…..on the other hand I would! So he’s a much better person than I am.
Doug says
How pathetic our society has become when the same race cries foul to have the other suspended. The FCSO should’ve never entertained the complaint to begin with. If the deputy had told the inmate, “God Bless” instead, he would’ve complained too.
James Manfre says
I should have known better than to complement Staly on his disciplinary decision on Detective Moy. The same reasoning should apply when deciding whether a violation of policy occurred and whether to punish or correct the behavior: that is the employees past behavior. Pete has always been an exemplary employee and a role model for others for his eighteen year career. This charge and punishment sounds like nonsense and is not consistent with a reasonable disciplinary policy.