[FL] Officer Jones faces firing - accused of punching, kicking, & choking his wife - Chief wants him out

...The two got in an argument then [Boynton Police Officer Thomas "Tommy"] Jones punched, kicked and choked her... Jones told investigators that he didn't remember how much he had to drink. Jones says he struck his wife after she asked him about his car... He was charged with domestic strangulation and battery but was found not guilty... In 2001, he was involved in a car crash with a fellow officer in Boynton Beach. Both were off-duty. Jones smelled of alcohol at the scene but he didn't seem drunk, police said, so no field sobriety tests were conducted... Prosecutors say they did not file charges against Jones because there wasn't sufficient evidence...

[Comments on the web say that the victim is also an officer. Is that true?]

BOYNTON BEACH OFFICER FACES DISMISSAL
wptv.com
Reported by: David Gould
Last Update: 12/01 2:29 pm
On January 31st 2009 Officer Thomas Jones was arrested. Boynton Beach Police charged Jones with domestic battery after he allegedly struck his wife. The Boynton Beach officer told investigators that he had been drinking at the Carolina Ale House and later went to Platinum Showgirls. Information released by the Boynton Beach Police says officer Jones told investigators that he didn't remember how much he had to drink. Jones says he struck his wife after she asked him about his car. Boynton Beach Police Chief of Police G. Mathew Immler reviewed Officer Jones' case and has recommended that he be released. The Boynton Beach City Manager will make the final decision on Thomas Jones' status with the police department.  [LINK]

BOYNTON BEACH COP MAY BE FIRED OVER DOMESTIC ABUSE CHARGE
Sun-Sentinel.com
By Jerome Burdi
December 1, 2009
[Excerpts] Boynton Beach Police Chief Matthew Immler recommended firing an officer arrested in January for allegedly beating his wife. He was charged with domestic strangulation and battery but was found not guilty in April. Officer Tommy Jones, 31, hired in February 2001, remains on paid leave while City Manager Kurt Bressner makes the final call. The internal affairs investigation closed in November. According to the report: Jones got home about 2:15 a.m. Jan. 31 after a night of drinking and was yelling outside because he didn't have his keys. His wife let him in. The two got in an argument then Jones punched, kicked and choked her. It was the second time Jones had a brush with the law. In 2001, he was involved in a car crash with a fellow officer in Boynton Beach. Both were off-duty. Jones smelled of alcohol at the scene but he didn't seem drunk, police said, so no field sobriety tests were conducted and he was not arrested... [Full article here]

EARLIER NEWS:

BOYNTON BEACH POLICE OFFICER ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
By CHRISTINA DeNARDO
Saturday, January 31, 2009
[Excerpts] A Boynton Beach Police officer was arrested early this morning by his own department and charged with domestic violence, the second time he has been in trouble with the law. Officer Thomas Jones, 30, was suspended with pay... He was charged with felony battery or domestic violence with strangulation, as well as battery... In October 2001, Jones was stopped by police after he injured a fellow law enforcement officer in a car crash. Earlier in the evening, Jones and investigator Scott Caudell played pool and drank a few beers. At about 3 a.m., Jones hit Caudell's motorcycle when Caudell stopped to avoid a pickup. Caudell's ankle was cut severely... Police did not arrest Jones, but an internal investigation said that the police officers did not ask enough questions and should have arrested Jones. Prosecutors say they did not file charges against Jones because there wasn't sufficient evidence, and there had been a delay between the accident and blood tests to determine alcohol levels... At the time Police Chief Marshall Gage suspended Jones for three weeks. [Full article here]
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