By Kyle LoJacono
Zephyrhills City Councilman Manny Funes continues to question the 2008 job application of Zephyrhills Police Department (ZPD) Capt. Jeffrey McDougal.
Funes presented a 30-page report to the council on May 10 that he claims indicates McDougal did not disclose on his application that he had been a suspect in a criminal case 18 years ago. Funes states in his report that he found documents that show McDougal was identified as a suspect.
“I just want the truth to come out,” Funes said.
When asked if he planned to review McDougal’s employment application, ZPD Police Chief David Shears said, “I’m not really going to comment on Mr. Funes’ comments. I think that’s come out and I don’t want to talk about it.”
Shears also declined to comment on another question on McDougal’s application probing motor vehicle violations that was left unanswered.
In previous investigative reports, McDougal admitted that he presented a signed document granting an easement for property adjacent to his own to a notary public to validate in 1992. The notary, Wade Thomas, was charged in the case because he did not witness the signatures as required by law, but no charges were ever lodged for McDougal’s involvement. Thomas successfully completed pre-trial intervention and avoided a trial.
Property owners Royce and Janet Mitchell said they believed the easement was being conveyed for the electric company, which would have been the Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative. Instead it went to McDougal, who later returned the property by quitclaim deed when the Mitchells complained. The land in question is 5-feet wide by 157.37-feet long, about half the length of a football field.
The statue of limitations has expired, so McDougal cannot be charged in that incident. Funes maintains that McDougal was obligated to disclose his involvement when he applied to rejoin the ZPD because a department questionnaire requires applicants to disclose whether they have ever been a suspect or arrested in a criminal case.
Information about McDougal’s involvement in the easement case was contained in an anonymous letter delivered to City Hall earlier this year. City Manager Steve Spina said he investigated the information in the letter and found it was not worth pursuing.
The City Council concurred and a motion was passed to “cease and desist further discussion (or action) of this matter…nothing more nothing less” as introduced by councilwoman Jodi Wilkeson in response to a grievance submitted by McDougal.
Funes was the dissenting vote. After the meeting Funes said that he was uncertain about what he will do next.
City Council president Lance Smith said one of the reasons the council wanted to move past the issue is it had already been discussed at a previous meeting and the event happened 18 years ago.
“There’s no reason to drag up something that happened 18 years ago,” Smith said. “…I think it’s enough and he has a very good record as a city employee.”
Smith also said he did not want a lawsuit to result from Funes continuing to investigate. McDougal’s grievance against Funes contends the councilman’s actions have distracted him from doing his job and that the councilman slandered him.
“I don’t hold anything against Mr. Funes,” McDougal said after the vote. “I think he’s a good man. He’s an honorable man and I think he will listen to the council and they’ve given him direction. I’m satisfied with the results.”
After the meeting, Funes said of the result, “It’s what I anticipated…I think (the council) made up their mind, or that their mind was made up prior to the meeting and I think it’s unfortunate we didn’t have input from the public relative to what has taken place.”
