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Investigation Clears Boynton Beach Officers Amid Controversy

BOYNTON BEACH — Recent findings from an Internal Affairs investigation have cleared two police officers of wrongdoing in a crash incident involving Chelsea Harness, the girlfriend of city commissioner Thomas Turkin. The investigation has drawn scrutiny due to the lack of direct interviews with the officers involved.

Following the crash, both officers reportedly detected the scent of alcohol on Harness’s breath. Commissioner Turkin arrived at the scene and identified Harness as his girlfriend, but she was not charged or subjected to a Breathalyzer test, raising questions about standard procedures typically followed in such cases.

Mark Sieron, a lawyer specializing in DUI cases from the Jacksonville area, acknowledged that while the smell of alcohol alone does not trigger a DUI investigation, incidents involving property damage generally do prompt such inquiries. In this case, Harness crashed into a stationary vehicle with a flat tire, resulting in significant damage to property.

Officer Desiree Rosas was present during the investigation of the potential DUI incident involving Harness, prompting a complaint to the County Ethics Commission alleging that Turkin may have interfered in the police investigation. Rosas resigned shortly after the commencement of this investigation.

The Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics assessed whether Turkin breached ethical standards related to his interaction at the scene. Ultimately, the commission found insufficient evidence of misconduct, though its investigator deemed Turkin’s actions “concerning.”

Public records obtained by The Palm Beach Post confirmed that Police Chief Joe DeGiulio had ordered an Internal Affairs investigation once aware of the ethics inquiry. However, the summary provided revealed that neither officer was interviewed during the investigation, raising further questions about the thoroughness of the inquiry.

The summary indicated that the investigation relied heavily on testimony from Officer Thomas Coppini presented to the ethics commission. Rosas had resigned prior to the Internal Affairs investigation’s initiation. Additionally, attempts by the ethics commission to reach Rosas were hampered by the police department’s refusal to provide her forwarding address.

Witness Phil Terrano, who initially triggered the ethics investigation with his complaint, reported overhearing Turkin stating that Harness was intoxicated and fortunate to avoid arrest. Despite this, the ethics commission found that Terrano’s account could not be independently corroborated.

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DeGiulio defended the officers’ actions, stating that an officer can deactivate their camera once an incident concludes. He emphasized that Coppini turned off his body-worn camera only after confirming the decision not to proceed with a DUI investigation.

Commenting on the matter, retired Chief Louis Dekmar expressed significant concern over the decision not to interview the involved officers. He argued that the ethics commission’s investigation did not adequately address potential deficiencies in police procedures and concluded that these oversights could undermine public trust.

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Dekmar remarked on the discrepancies between the findings of the Internal Affairs report and the ethics commission’s conclusions, noting that the investigation’s integrity could be compromised. “A proper investigation is essential for public confidence in law enforcement,” he stated.

Additionally, Turkin’s presence at the crash scene has resulted in a financial burden for Boynton Beach taxpayers, amounting to $4,200 for legal representation before the ethics commission. This has raised further concerns regarding the appropriateness of Turkin’s actions as a city official during the incident.

In summary, while the internal investigation exonerated the officers, the lack of interviews and the manner in which the investigation was conducted raise significant questions about the handling of the case. Transparency and accountability in law enforcement remain a critical aspect of community trust and assurance.

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