MELBOURNE, Fla. — Two Melbourne police officers are off the job and under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
One of the officers was turned in by the department for use of force during an arrest, while the other is accused of sexual assault.
Police aren't saying much about what led to the allegations.
The officers facing the accusations are on leave and still collecting a paycheck.
The accusations against the officers are for two separate cases.
Lt. Pete Mercaldo was identified as the officer in the sexual assault investigation, but police are not saying if the alleged incident happened while he was on the job.
Meanwhile, the department said some of Officer Christipher Eisen’s supervisors were troubled by the force Eisen used while making an arrest.
They went through arrest reports and audio from Eisen’s car and decided to involve FDLE.
The conduct of the officers is the latest stain on the department’s reputation.
Last week, Officer Shawn Archibold was arrested after investigators said he picked up prostitutes while on patrol.
The week before his arrest, Channel 9 reported about the resignation of the former supervisor for the Special Investigations Unit, who was accused of harassment and drinking on the job.
Two officers under him were also disciplined.
Melbourne Police Chief Steve Mimbs said in a statement Friday, “We absolutely will not tolerate these types of activities and will be thorough and relentless when allegations such as these arise."
FDLE could not comment on the investigations.
Cox Media Group
