SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – A Tampa police officer has been fired for unprofessional conduct, the Tampa Police Department said Tuesday.
Officer Dukagjin Maxhuni was “inconsistent with departmental policy and training that reflected deficiencies in judgment, communication, prisoner care and professionalism,” the department said in a news release.
In the announcement, the department included body camera video of Maxhuni using a taser unnecessarily on a suspect during a traffic stop in February.
“Immediately following the arrest, Maxhuni left the suspect lying on the sidewalk unattended and made several unprofessional and disparaging comments to the suspect,” the department said.
On Feb. 25, Maxhuni and his partner conducted a traffic stop. As Maxhuni was exiting from the passenger side of the unmarked police vehicle, the suspect driver had gotten out of his car and was walking away.
The suspect stopped when he saw Maxhuni exit his vehicle and put his hands up. Maxhuni instructed the suspect to turn around while simultaneously activating his taser. “Maxhuni did not reassess or provide the suspect with adequate time to comply with the command,” before the taser was used, the department said.
“His repeated blatant disregard for professionalism, dignity, and respect violated the standards we expect of every member of this Department, and those actions carried serious consequences,” Chief Lee Bercaw said in the news release.
“Our community deserves better, and they should know that his behavior does not reflect the character, values, or commitment of the just over 1,000 officers who put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve this city with honor and integrity.”
Maxhuni also was disciplined in 2022 for sustained violations of rules regarding conduct and courtesy to the public. He had been employed with the Tampa Police Department since April 2013.
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