Citizen Report No. 1676213506 - 615808324

Matthew Cavinder
1301 First Ave North
Saint Petersburg, Florida 33705

Date of Offense

June 20, 2021

Offense(s)

 

Supporting Document(s)

News Release.pdf

Statement

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
Report number: 2022-

Date of original release: 01-27-22

Command Review Board Terminates Officer

Release posted on 01-27-22 at 8:05 a.m.

On January 26, 2022, Chief Anthony Holloway convened a Command Review Board to review allegations that Officer Matthew Cavinder improperly used his taser during an arrest, violating Department policy and procedures. The Board sustained the allegations and Cavinder's employment was terminated. Chief Holloway will speak to media today, January 27, at 10 a.m. at the St. Petersburg Police Dept.

Cavinder was sworn as a St. Petersburg Police Officer on March 23, 2020. He was assigned to patrol District 3.

Summary: On June 20, 2021, at 4:55 p.m., Officer Matthew Cavinder responded to a call to trespass a panhandler at the Chevron Gas Station, 4890 22nd Avenue South. When he arrived, he made contact with Timothy Grant, DOB 3-7-57, who was in a wheelchair, and learned he had outstanding warrants for Failure to Appear. During the arrest, Cavinder, 'drive stunned' (tasered without prongs) Grant multiple times even though he was not physically resisting in a way that warranted being tasered. When Cavinder's supervisor reviewed the use of force, including the body camera video, it was immediately forwarded to the Office of Professional Standards for internal investigation.

A report will be forwarded to the FDLE Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission to determine whether Cavinder will keep his state certification.

Video from body cam

St. Petersburg Police Media Relations - (727) 893-7550
YOLANDA FERNANDEZ - Public Information Officer

A search of the Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission (CJSTC) searchable data base of Discipline Cases did not list any records for Matthew Cavinder as of 2/12/2023.

https://atms.fdle.state.fl.us/atms/od/reportsPreview.jsf?faces-redirect=true

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Definition of Offense(s)

Abuse of Authority

Police corruption is the abuse of police authority for personal gain. Corruption may involve profit or another type of material benefit gained illegally as a consequence of the officer's authority.

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Deprivation of Rights

Acting under color of law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom to willfully deprive or cause to be deprived from any person those rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution and laws of the U.S. (taken from U.S.C.

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Use of Force

Police brutality is the use of excessive and unnecessary force on the part of a police officer when he is interacting with a civilian, resulting in a violation of the civilian’s civil rights.

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