88-006446 Esteban Tabaoado vs. Department Of Law Enforcement Status: Closed Recommended Order on Wednesday, June 28, 1989.

Summary: Applicant for certification as correction officer failed to demonstrate good moral character based on recent use of controlled substances.

STATE OF FLORIDA

DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

ESTEBAN TABAOADO, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

and )

)

METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY, )

)

Intervenor, )

)

vs. ) CASE NO. 88-6446

)

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW )

ENFORCEMENT, CRIMINAL JUSTICE )

STANDARDS AND TRAINING COMMISSION, )

)

Respondent. )

___________________________________)

RECOMMENDED ORDER

Pursuant to notice, the Division of Administrative Hearings, by its duly

designated Hearing Officer, William J. Kendrick, held a formal hearing in the

above-styled case on April 4, 1989, in Miami, Florida.

APPEARANCES

For Petitioner: James C. Casey, Esquire

Dade County Police

Benevolent Association

10680 N.W. 25th Street

Miami, Florida 33172

For Respondent: Joseph S. White, Esquire

Florida Department of Law Enforcement

Post Office Box 1489

Tallahassee, Florida 32302

For Intervenor: Lee Kraftchick, Esquire

Assistant County Attorney

Metro Dade Center

111 N.W. 1st Street

Suite 2810

Miami, Florida 33128

STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES

At issue in this proceeding is whether petitioner possesses the requisite

good moral character for certification as a correctional officer.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

The record in the instant case consists of the testimony and exhibits

offered at the hearing held on April 4, 1989, as well as the generic record

developed during the course of hearing on April 3-4, 1989. At the hearing held

on April 4, 1989, petitioner called Hector Rocafort, Lois Spears, Sheila Dixon,

Mitchell Spears, Nita Thomas, Olfuine Tabaoado, and Kevin Hickey as witnesses.

Petitioner's exhibits 1-15 were received into evidence. Respondent called

Hector Rocafort, Lois Spears, Ervie Wright, and Louviena Lee as witnesses, but

offered no exhibits. The generic record developed during the course of hearing

on April 3-4, 1989, consists of the testimony of Fred Crawford, Sandra Milton,

Danny Quick, Louviena Lee and Kevin Hickey, as well as Hearing Officer exhibits

1-38, petitioners' exhibit 1, respondent's exhibit 1, and intervenor's exhibit

1. 1/ Intervenor's exhibit 1 was not, however, received into evidence.

At the parties' request, a deadline was established for filing proposed

findings of fact or other post hearing submissions that was more than ten days

after the filing of the transcript in May 1989. Consequently, the parties

waived the requirement that a recommended order be rendered within thirty days

after the transcript is filed. Rule 221-6.031, Florida Administrative Code.

The parties' proposed findings have been addressed in the appendix to this

recommended order.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Background

1. In June 1988, respondent, Florida Department of Law Enforcement,

Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (Commission), acting on a tip

from the local media that intervenor, Metropolitan Dade County, Department of

Corrections and Rehabilitation (County), had in its employ a number of

corrections officers who were not certified, undertook a review of the County's

employment records. Following a comparison of the County's records and those of

the Commission, the Commission identified 363 individuals, including the

petitioner, who were employed by the County as correctional officers but who had

not been certified by the Commission.

2. On August 10-11, 1988, Commission personnel visited the County's

personnel office, and audited the personnel file of each of the 363 individuals

in question. The audit demonstrated that the files were disorganized, lacking

documentation required by Rule 11B-27.002, Florida Administrative Code, to apply

for certification, and that the County had failed to apply for certification on

behalf of the 363 officers. 2/

3. Over the course of their two-day visit, the Commission's personnel set

up an "assembly line" and, together with the County's staff, attempted to

complete the documentation on each file. Variously, registration forms and

affidavits of compliance were prepared, and birth certificates, fingerprint

cards and other missing documentation was assembled.

4. On August 12, 1988, the Commission's personnel returned to Tallahassee

with the subject registration forms and affidavits of compliance, but not with

those of petitioner. Over the course of time, these applications were processed

and the vast majority of the individuals were certified; however, the Commission

declined, for reasons hereinafter discussed, to certify petitioner.

The pending application

5. Petitioner, Esteban Tabaoado (Tabaoado), has been employed by the

County as a correctional officer periodically since September 11, 1984, without

benefit of certification.

6. On or about September 9, 1988, as a consequence of the aforementioned

audit, the County, as the employing agency, applied for certification on behalf

of Tabaoado. 3/ Accompanying the application (registration) was an affidavit of

compliance, dated September 9, 1988, signed by Fred Crawford, Director of

Metropolitan Dade County, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which

comported with existing law and which certified that such employing agency had

collected, verified, and was maintaining on file evidence that Tabaoado had met

the provisions of Section 943.13(1)-(8), and Section 943.131, Florida Statutes,

or any rules adopted pursuant thereto. Among the provision of section 943.13 is

the requirement that the applicant be of good moral character.

7. By letter dated November 1, 1988, the Commission notified Tabaoado and

the County that his application for certification as a correctional officer was

denied for lack of good moral character because:

You have unlawfully and knowingly possessed

and introduced into your body cocaine.

8. Following receipt of the Commission's letter of denial, Tabaoado filed

a timely request for a formal hearing pursuant to Section 120.57(1), Florida

Statutes. In his request for hearing, Tabaoado denied that he failed to possess

the requisite good moral character necessary for certification.

Good moral character

9. Pursuant to Rule 11B-27.0011, Florida Administrative Code, the County,

as the employing agency, is responsible for conducting a thorough background

investigation to determine the moral character of an applicant. Consistent with

such mandate, the County routinely uses previous employment data, law

enforcement records, credit agency records, inquiries of the applicant's

neighbors and associates, and a pre-employment interview, at which a polygraph

examination is administered, to assess an applicant's moral character.

10. In assessing an applicant's character, the County is bound by the

provisions of Rule 11B-27.0011(2), Florida Administrative Code, which provides:

The unlawful use of any of the

controlled substances enumerated in Rule

11B-27.00225 by an applicant for

certification, employment, or appointment at

any time proximate to such application for

certification, employment, or appointment

conclusively establishes that the applicant

is not of good moral character as required

by Section 943.13(7). The unlawful use of

any of the controlled substances enumerated

in Rule 11B-27.00225 by an applicant at any

time remote from and not proximate to such

application may or may not conclusively

establish that the applicant is not of good

moral character, as required by Section

943.13(7), depending upon the type of

controlled substance used, the frequency of

use, and the age of the applicant at the

time of use. Nothing herein is intended,

however, to restrict the construction of

Section 943.13(7), only to such controlled

substance use.

The substances enumerated in rule 11B-27.00225 are amphetamines, barbiturates,

cannabis (marijuana), opiates, cocaine, phencyclidine, benzodiazepines, and

methaqualone.

11. Under the provisions of rule 11B-27.0011(2), the use of a controlled

substance does not conclusively establish that an applicant lacks the good moral

character necessary for certification unless such use was "proximate" to his

application. The Commission has not defined the term "proximate," and offered

no proof at hearing as to what it considers "proximate" usage within the meaning

of rule 11B-27.0011(2). Variously, the law enforcement agencies of the state

have been left with no definitive guideline from the Commission, and have

adopted various standards. Pertinent to this case, Dade County has adopted a

term of one year as the standard by which it gauges the "proximate" use of a

controlled substance to an application for employment. Under such policy, an

applicant who has refrained from such use for at least one year preceding

application will not be automatically rejected as lacking good moral character.

Rather, the applicant's entire background will be evaluated to determine whether

he currently possesses the requisite moral character for employment. 4/

12. Pertinent to this case, the County undertook a pre-employment

interview of Tabaoado on January 31, 1984, at which time he admitted to having

used cocaine approximately eight times, the last time being in 1980, and to

having used marijuana a few times, the last time being in June of 1983.

Thereafter, on September 11, 1984, Tabaoado was employed by the County as a

correctional officer, and served satisfactorily until 1986.

13. On December 14, 1986, evidence that Tabaoado had a substance abuse

problem surfaced. On that date, Tabaoado telephoned his former supervisor,

Lieutenant Lois Spears, a confidante, and advised her that he had been using

drugs and did not think he could work that night. Lt. Spears advised Tabaoado

not to report for work that evening, but to report the next morning to the

administrative offices. The following day, Tabaoado met with Lt. Spears and

Ervie Wright, the director of the Department's program services, which include

employee counseling. At that time, Tabaoado conceded that he had been abusing

cocaine, and Mr. Wright recommended that he seek assistance for his problem.

14. On January 5, 1987, the County terminated Tabaoado's employment as a

correctional officer for failure to maintain a drug-free life-style.

15. On October 19, 1987, following Tabaoado's attendance at a drug

rehabilitation program, the County re-employed him as a correctional officer.

To date, Tabaoado has been so employed for approximately one and one-half years

without incident, and his performance has been above satisfactory. By those who

know of him, he is considered an excellent employee, observant of the rules, and

of good moral character.

16. Recently, on January 20, 1989, Tabaoado married Olfuine Tabaoado, who

has been a correctional officer with the County for almost three years.

According to Ms. Tabaoado, she has never known him to use drugs during the one-

year period that she has known him, and Tabaoado has proven to be a good father

to her son from a previous marriage.

17. While Tabaoado may have abstained from the use of drugs since his re-

employment with the County, or even since January of 1987, the proof is not

compelling in this regard. Rather, the proof demonstrates that Tabaoado's use

of drugs, at least of cocaine, was frequent and protracted. Here, Tabaoado,

born September 2, 1960, to the extent that he would admit it, used cocaine 8

times until 1980 and marijuana a "few times" until 1983. Thereafter, following

his initial employment by the County as a correctional officer, he used cocaine

to such an extent that by December 14, 1986, he was unable to perform his job

and was in need of professional help to address his drug abuse. Such frequent

and protracted use on his part does not evidence the requisite good moral

character necessary for certification as a correctional officer.

18. Here, Tabaoado chose not to testify at hearing, and there is no

competent or persuasive proof to demonstrate that he successfully completed the

drug rehabilitation program; when, if ever, he ceased using cocaine; whether he

now has an appreciation of the impropriety of his conduct; or whether he can

reasonably be expected to avoid such conduct in the future. Notably, on October

5, 1987, prior to his re-employment, Tabaoado underwent another pre-employment

interview. At that time, Tabaoado told the interviewer, who had also conducted

his first interview, that he had not used any drugs since his last interview on

January 31, 1984. Such response was patently false, since he had abused cocaine

at least as recently as December 1986.

19. Considering the totality of the circumstances, it is concluded that

Tabaoado has failed to demonstrate that he currently possesses the requisite

good moral character for certification as a correctional officer.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

20. The Division of Administrative Hearings has jurisdiction over the

parties to, and the subject matter of, these proceedings.

21. The ultimate burden of persuasion as to whether an application for

certification as a correctional officer should be approved rests with the

applicant. See Rule 28-6.08(3), Florida Administrative Code, and Florida

Department of Transportation v. J.W.C. Co., 396 So.2d 778 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981).

22. Section 943.13, Florida Statutes, establishes the minimum

qualifications for certification, employment or appointment of a correctional

officer. Pertinent to this case, that section provides:

(7) Have a good moral character....

23. For purposes of assessing an applicant's good moral character, the

Commission has adopted Rule 11B-27.0011, Florida Administrative Code, which

provides:

(2) The unlawful use of any of the

controlled substances enumerated in Rule

11B-27.00225 by an applicant for

certification, employment, or appointment at

any time proximate to such application for

certification, employment, or appointment

conclusively establishes that the applicant

is not of good moral character as required

by Section 943.13(7). The unlawful use of

any of the controlled substances enumerated

in Rule 11B-27.00225 by an applicant at any

time remote from and not proximate to such

application may or may not conclusively

establish that the applicant is not of good

moral character, as required by Section

943.13(7), depending upon the type of

controlled substance used, the frequency of

use, and the age of the applicant at the

time of use. Nothing herein is intended,

however, to restrict the construction of

Section 943.13(7) only to such controlled

substance use.

The substances enumerated in rule 11B-27.00225 are amphetamines, barbiturates,

cannabis (marijuana), opiates, cocaine, phencyclidine, benzodiazepines, and

methaqualone.

24. Apart from rule 11B-27.0011, the Commission has adopted no rule that

establishes the standards by which the good moral character of an applicant are

to be assessed. Existent case law does, however, provide some guidance.

25. Where, as here, the offending conduct is not of itself a disqualifier

to licensure, the courts have long recognized that what constitutes good moral

character is a matter to be developed by the facts. 5/ Zemour, Inc. v. Division

of Beverage, 347 So.2d 1102 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977) and White v. Beary, 237 So.2d

263 (Fla. 1st DCA 1970). In Zemour, Inc. v. Division of Beverages, supra, at

page 1105, the court concluded:

Moral character . . . means not only the

ability to distinguish between right and

wrong, but the character to observe the

difference; the observance of the rules of

right conduct, and conduct which indicates

and establishes the qualities generally

acceptable to the populace for positions of

trust and confidence. An isolated unlawful

act [that does not by statute or rule

specifically disqualify a person from

licensure] or acts of indiscretion wherever

committed do not necessarily establish bad

moral character. But repeated acts in

violation of law wherever committed and

generally condemned by law abiding people,

over a long period of time, evinces the sort

of mind and establishes the sort of

character that should not be entrusted

with a . . . license.

And, in Florida Board of Bar Examiners v. G.W.L., 364 So.2d 454, 458 (Fla.

1987), the court concluded:

. . . a finding of a lack of "good moral

character" should not be restricted to those

acts that reflect moral turpitude. A more

appropriate definition of the phrase

requires an inclusion of acts and conduct

which would cause a reasonable man to have

substantial doubts about an individual's

honesty, fairness, and respect for the

rights of others and for the laws of the

state and nation.

26. Here, Tabaoado has failed to demonstrate, as required by law, that he

possesses the requisite good moral character for employment and certification as

a correctional officer.

RECOMMENDATION

Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is

RECOMMENDED that the application of petitioner, Esteban Tabaoado, for

certification as a correctional officer be DENIED.

DONE AND ENTERED in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, this 28th of June

1989.

___________________________________

WILLIAM J. KENDRICK

Hearing Officer

Division of Administrative Hearings

The DeSoto Building

1230 Apalachee Parkway

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550

[phone]

Filed with the Clerk of the

Division of Administrative Hearings

this 28th day of June 1989.

ENDNOTES

1/ The application of petitioner for certification as a correctional officer was

but one of thirty-seven applications that were scheduled to be heard commencing

on April 3, 1989. At that time, perceiving that the testimony of certain

witnesses would be common to most applicants, the parties agreed to develop a

generic record that would, pertinent to this case, be utilized in addition to

the proof offered individually on behalf of the petitioner.

2/ Variously, some files contained the original registration and original

affidavit of compliance that must be submitted to the Commission for

certification, some files were totally missing registrations and affidavits of

compliance, and some files were missing birth certificates, fingerprint cards

and other documentation required for certification. Overall, none of the files

contained the documentation required by law for certification.

3/ At hearing, petitioner produced two affidavits of compliance executed by

Fred Crawford, one dated September 2, 1988, and one dated September 9, 1988, as

well as an affidavit of applicant dated August 18, 1988. There was no proof

that any other affidavits had previously been executed and no persuasive proof

that any application had previously been filed on behalf of Tabaoado.

4/ Commission of offenses, unless they result in a felony conviction or a

misdemeanor conviction involving perjury or false statement, do not bar

employment or certification as a correctional officer, unless they demonstrate

bad moral character. Section 943.13, Florida Statutes. Consistent with

existent law, and the past practices of the Commission, the County does not

automatically reject an applicant who has been convicted of a misdemeanor that

does not involve perjury or false statement, or who has committed an offense

that did not result in a felony conviction, but evaluates the applicant's entire

background to determine whether the applicant currently possesses the requisite

moral character for employment.

5/ Pertinent to this case, the only specified disqualifer to licensure is

Section 943.13, Florida Statutes, which provides:

On or after October 1, 1984, any person

employed or appointed as a correctional

officer . . . shall:

* * *

(4) Not have been convicted of any

felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury

or a false statement . . . Any person who, after

July 1, 1981, pleads guilty or nolo

contendere to or is found guilty of any

felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury

or a false statement is not eligible for

employment or appointment as an officer,

notwithstanding suspension of sentence or

withholding of adjudication.

APPENDIX

The proposed findings of fact submitted on behalf of petitioner,

individually, are addressed as follows:

1-2. Addressed in paragraph 6 and footnote 3.

3-4. Addressed in paragraphs 7 and 8 to the extent pertinent.

5-7. Addressed in paragraph 12.

8. Addressed in paragraph 17.

9-10. Addressed in paragraph 12, otherwise rejected as subordinate.

11. Addressed in paragraph 15, otherwise rejected as subordinate.

12-17. Addressed in paragraph 13. Otherwise rejected as subordinate.

18. Addressed in paragraph 15, otherwise rejected as subordinate.

19. Not shown to be relevant to petitioner's use of drugs or otherwise to his

moral character.

20. Not relevant.

21-22. Addressed in paragraph 15, otherwise rejected as subordinate.

23-27. To the extent pertinent, addressed in paragraph 13, otherwise rejected

as subordinate.

28-32. To the extent pertinent, addressed in paragraph 14, otherwise rejected

as irrelevant or subordinate.

33-41. Addressed in paragraph 15, otherwise rejected as subordinate.

42-44. Addressed in paragraph 16.

45-47. Addressed in paragraph 15, otherwise rejected as subordinate.

The proposed findings of fact submitted for petitioner on the generic

record are addressed as follows:

1-14. Rejected as recitation of witness testimony, and not findings of fact.

The matters have, however, been addressed in paragraphs 9-11, and footnote 4.

15, 16, 18-20. Addressed in paragraphs 1-4 and footnotes 2 and 3.

17, 29, and 30. Addressed in footnote 3.

21. Addressed in paragraph 6, otherwise rejected as unnecessary to the result

reached or a legal conclusion.

22-27. Addressed in paragraphs 2-4, and footnote 3. Otherwise rejected as

subordinate to the conclusion reached.

28. Rejected as misleading and not supported by competent proof. The

Commission does verify at the employing agency that the documentation required

by section 943.13 (1)-(8) and Section 943.131, Florida Statutes, is being

maintained. However, such inspection does not occur until an application for

certification has been filed with the Commission. Where, as here, no

application has been filed, the Commission has no knowledge of an individual's

employment and, therefore, no opportunity or responsibility to verify any

documentation. It is the employing agency's responsibility to apprise the

Commission of any change of employment so that it can properly verify

documentation. Dade County failed to discharge its responsibilities.

31-36. Addressed in paragraph 2 and footnote 3, otherwise rejected as

subordinate.

The proposed findings of fact filed on behalf of respondent are addressed

as follows:

1-2. Addressed in paragraphs 6 and 7.

3-4. Addressed in paragraphs 1, 2, 5, 6 and footnote 3.

5-7. Addressed in paragraph 12.

8-13. Addressed in paragraph 13.

14. Not relevant.

15-16. Addressed in paragraph 14.

17. Addressed in paragraph 15.

18. Addressed in paragraph 17.

Intervenor did not submit proposed findings of fact but did submit a post

hearing brief. Accordingly, while intervenor's brief has been considered, there

are no proposed findings of fact to address on behalf of intervenor.

COPIES FURNISHED:

James C. Casey, Esquire

Dade County Police

Benevolent Association

10680 N.W. 25th Street

Miami, Florida 33172

Joseph S. White, Esquire

Florida Department of Law

Enforcement

Post Office Box 1489

Tallahassee, Florida 32302

Lee Kraftchick, Esquire

Assistant County Attorney

Metro Dade Center

Ill N.W. 1st Street

Suite 2810

Miami, Florida 33128

Jeffrey Long, Director

Criminal Justice Standards

and Training Commission

Post Office Box 1489

Tallahassee, Florida 32302

Daryl McLaughlin

Executive Director

Florida Department of Law

Enforcement

Post Office Box 1489

Tallahassee, Florida 32302

Rodney Gaddy

General Counsel

Florida Department of Law

Enforcement

Post Office Box 1489

Tallahassee, Florida 32302