20-164 Detention Sergeant Resigns Prior To Termination After Making Racial And Sexist Comment
Member Resignation
Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Professional Standards Bureau
-Administrative Investigation Division
Sergeant Richard Nascimento Jr.
Date of Hire: 10/4/1999
Age: 53 Years Old
What:
A Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office detention sergeant resigns prior to being terminated after making a racial and sexist comment about subordinate members.
When:
The sergeant was placed on Administrative Leave on October 29, 2020. His resignation was effective on Wednesday, November 18, 2020.
Where:
The sergeant was a member of the Department of Detention and Corrections and was assigned to the Training Division.
Why/How:
A Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office detention sergeant resigned after making a racial and sexist comment.
On August 17, 2020, Sergeant Richard Nascimento Jr. was in his office speaking with another Sheriff’s Office supervisor regarding the selection of deputies for the Training Division. During that discussion Nascimento stated that he did not “want any more black females” in the Training Division, indicating that black female deputies would not be considered for transfer because of their race and gender. As Nascimento made the comment, the only black female deputy assigned to the Training Division walked into the room by happenstance and heard Nascimento’s statement.
Nascimento’s comment went unreported until the Sheriff’s Office became aware of it on October 29, 2020. Nascimento was immediately removed from his position and placed on Administrative Leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
The matter was scheduled to be heard before the Administrative Review Board on Thursday, November 19, 2020; however, Nascimento resigned on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 before the Board could meet.
According to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, based on the evidence obtained during the internal investigation establishing Nascimento’s racial and gender-based discriminatory remarks, Sheriff Gualtieri would have terminated Nascimento’s employment had he not resigned prior to the Administrative Review Board hearing.
It is the policy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office that all members shall enjoy a work environment free of all forms of discrimination based on, but not limited to, a member’s race and gender.
