St. Petersburg security chief under investigation

ST. PETERSBURG -- The city’s top security officer is being investigated by the Police Department, but officials won’t say why.

Ronald Whitaker, City Hall’s security supervisor, was not at work this week. City officials did not respond to multiple requests Tuesday about his employment status. He has worked at City Hall since August 1994. His annual salary was 36,813 as of December 2008.

"This e-mail is to confirm that we are conducting an active criminal investigation that involves Mr. Ronald Whitaker," police spokesman Bill Proffitt wrote Tuesday. "I cannot release any additional information at this time."

UPDATE: Whitaker's current salary is $37,917. He was on leave with pay from June 16 through July 17. He has been using vacation days since then, City Clerk Eva Andujar said.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

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Comments

[saintpetersblog]

There were four security officers (are they offically cops) sitting around while the City Council candidate debate was going on. A complete waste of taxpayer dollars. What were they protecting? Ed Helm from getting punched in his mustache?

[.True Blue.]

No, Peter they were there to make sure that you didn't steal anything.

[saintpetersblog]

Speaking of punched in the face, not that I could mess up that grill of the your's any worse, Jim Donnelon.

[Karl]

Bennett/ Schorsch
Foster/Schorsch
Take your pick.
Do you want these guys near the Police Dept.?

[Illusion of Unrest]

Why would Helm be at the council debate? He's running for mayor.

Um, tomorrow night!

Go Ford!!

[saintpetersblog]

He came in late but he was there in the audience.

[St. Petersburg]

Ford is the only candidate that has the experience, knowledge and the guts to clean up this mess.

[The Brood]

If we want to know what is going on with the security chief, and if we want to be assured Justice will be served, then we need a mayor who is not beholden to anyone currently in power.

Since none of the other candidates can give us anything but the continuance of some version of "business as usual", we need new blood. Scott Wagman is that new blood, a man who will not be deterred from the search for truth concerning "Security Officers" or anyone else.

Wagman knows how to manage a complex organization, the employees know it and they work hard in appreciation of his good judgment and expertise.

Under Mayor Wagman, this city will experience an explosion of creativity and growth. We will become a leader in the transition from a carbon based society to a clean renewable future.

Scott Wagman is the future. All the rest are of the past.

[Wow]

Wow. At least the police are investigating.

[Sorry, St. Petersburg]

Experience, knowledge and guts? She was a city commissioner what, eight years ago? Nobody has seen her since, until she helped POWW with the petitions.

Let's get someone who knows how to run an efficient organization without getting into anyone's face about it.

[Paul]

Yeah, lets get Wagman to close the pier like he said he would. That will just fantastic for our tourism and quality of life here in St Pete. I'd just love to go for my run and not be able to go down the Pier because it is closed. Would make me feel all good and warm about the area... NOT! Who cares if he owns a paint company. Zero political experience is a huge black eye for Wagman. Oh, sorry that's right, he donated to himself so he has a bigger budget. big deal.

[That'll be $5 please... mitch]

How many times do I have to tell you guys… the one with the mostest money and the bestest mailer should be Mayor. It true; the boys from Wall Street, Halliburton, WorldCom, Enron, various brokerage houses, the big banks, the oil companies, Mel and Co…. and some old dude named Bernie told me so!

How’d I do dad?

[Only selling paint]

When you are selling something, whether it is paint or access to the mayor's office, only one thing matters... money and profits. There is no other competing interest within the company. You work against your competitors to sell the shinier latex or the flashier campaign mailer. But there is no compromise. It is about making deals to produce profits for private enterprise. Managing a government requires balancing a number of competing, equally valuable interests, and doing what is best for the greater good of society. It requires hashing out compromises that are in the public interest. It takes a very different mindset from a salesman. Waggers could use some experience at working in the public interest before he aims to run a city. At Triple-A Durham, he could work on his legislative skills and develop a better understanding of public policy.

[GD]

what the hell does all this have to do with some security guard being a criminal??? Did Baker set him up?

[LOLOLO]

It's All Bakers Fault. Baker told him to do something illegal & he got caught!!!! WHERE ARE THE UHURUS ON THIS ONE??????

[LOLOLO]

UHRUHUS NEED TO PROTEST THIS ON CITY HALL TOMORROW AT 7PM

[Alex Haak]

The only way WAGman, get even as much as a change, for the mayors position, he would have to do more illegal work first. The question issssssssssss dose he know how to do that. I know he is trying to buy it, but he has to become an even greater bandit then he already is, and above all, he should chance his campaign workers, and or, pay them even more, to help him spread lies.

"Alex Haak will tell it like it is"