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Town manager upholds firing of Jupiter officers

Posted at 5:11 PM, Mar 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-17 19:35:32-04

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Jupiter Town Manager has upheld the police chief's decision to fire two sergeants after an investigation revealed they engaged in sex acts while one of them was on duty.

Jupiter Police Sgt. Amy Walling and Sgt. Jason VanSteenburgh were once a couple but allegedly parted months ago. An internal investigation revealed Walling performed a sex act on VanSteenburgh while he was on duty. She was off duty at the time. According to the report, she also sent him a partially nude photo of herself while wearing a town police uniform.

The Palm Beach Post reports VanSteenburgh sent her a partially nude photo while wearing a SWAT uniform. He was allegedly protecting the safety of a person whose life was in danger at the time.

Chief Frank J. Kitzerow recommended firing the two sergeants for conduct unbecoming an officer.

Jupiter Town Manager Andy Lukasik issued the following statement:

Upon review of both of the Jupiter Police Department’s thorough internal affairs investigations, and Chief Kitzerow’s review of the investigations and subsequent recommendations, I have decided to uphold the recommendation to terminate the employment of both Sergeant Amy Walling and Sergeant Jason Vansteenburgh.

The actions of Sergeants Walling and Vansteenburgh were in violation of the Town’s policies and the Police Department’s General Orders. Their behavior was unacceptable and disappointing, and does not represent the culture or organizational values of the Town of Jupiter, the Jupiter Police Department or its employees.

 

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report