DATE:

TO: Sheriff Bob Gualtieri \c \ '-" \ \~_ j j

FROM: Assistant Chief Deputy George S. Steffen, #5160YfO
SUBJECT: Termination Recommendation
Ref: Deputy Austen J. Callus, #59401

Deputy Austen J. Callus was hired as a certified law enforcement deputy by the Pinellas County
Sheriffs Office on November 28,2016 and is currently a probationary member of the agency.

On Tuesday, June 27, 2017, the Administrative Investigative Division (AID) received information
from a subject identifying herself as a friend of Deputy Austen Callus, regarding a recent disturbing
Snapchat post. The post was provided to Sergeant Matt Wroe via email. It displayed a "selfie"
photo of Deputy Callus (attached) with a caption at the bottom of the photo with the following:

"Nothing like almost shooting someone to set your head right 101. God I gate (should be
hate) people with knives"

Deputy Callus' friend indicated Callus' girlfriend recently cheated on him and that he was upset
and was drinking alcohol heavily. She was concerned for his safety and the safety of others.
Further, that he posted additional Snapchat photos with captions about a "knife" while in a PCSO
uniform several days ago. Those Snapchat photos are not available.

Captain Jack Peterson met with Deputy Callus on June 27th to address the Snapchat post. His
conversation with Deputy Callus is detailed in the attached memorandum. Deputy admitted that
he posted several photos of himself with captions via Snapchat.

On this date the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) forwarded an email (attached)
to Tampa Bay Region law enforcement in an attempt to identify a subject in a Snapchat post which
was later posted on Facebook. The FDLE analyst indicated that there had been "anti-law
enforcement sentiment" surrounding the post (photo and caption). The photo post was that of
Deputy Callus. FDLE was notified that the person in the post was a member of the Pinellas County
Sheriff s Office.

Based on Deputy Callus' own admission, he displayed the disturbing and distressing post(s) on
the social media site known as Snapchat, which went viral on other social media sites, such as
Facebook. The post created such a concern, due to the anti-law enforcement sentiment it caused
the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to promptly requested assistance in identifying the
Snapchat photo.
Memorandum - Termination Recommendation
Ref: Deputy Austen J. Callus, #59401
Page 2

Deputy Callus was placed on Administrative Leave with pay on this date.

Based on the overwhelming troubling and discrediting behavior displayed by probationary

member Deputy Callus in this matter, I recommend his employment with the Pinellas County
Sheriff s Office be terminated.

GSS
Steffen,George

From: Danzig,David
Sent: Wednesday, June 28,201711:09
To: Steffen,George
Subject: FW: Snap Chat Posting

From: Fedun, Candace [mailto:CandaceFedun@fdle.stateJl.us]

Sent: Wednesday, June 28,2017 10:47 AM
Subject: Snap Chat Posting

We can't confirm that this individual pictured is law enforcement, but there has been anti-law enforcement sentiment
surrounding this SnapChat post on Facebook.
It is supposed that he is employed with a Pinellas County LE agency.

J;Q5~h Ashley Wood

~

TtlMS is IitDe !!lInd of cop Sit Peterstuu:rg poloce

C1epaltmlnthires? Slo'lIlOOone \'I;tIO 'lIti3!1l0S to snoot
SCil'l1le>(Jlf1l~ just to gef l1~s neac ngttt7 Sn:a!pcl1attll1g
all(! drliVitllg?
#s<1l!l'f'cepd ~ 1<lL!, cops ..... >eI1t1t05l( l1o:::J'tlIlthnlm
#Lqpwat<l:ih ##waltttt;'o(it1J[k
#\Co.psm"f1I~,.reatoo"t~:tbeI3/11i #iJodc>ompeex
#Ccij)blo.:k

.",;..

1
Candace C. Fedu:
Senior Crime Intelligence Analyst I
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center
4211 N. Lois Avenue
Tampa, FL 33614
(813) 878-7367 Desk
(863) 287-2358 Cell
CandaceFedun@fdle.state.fl.us

PLEASE NOTE: Florida has a broad public records law under Florida Chapter 119. Most written communications to or
from state officials regarding state business are considered to be public records and will be made available to the public
and media upon request. Your e-mail message may, therefore, be subject to public disclosure.

2
Steffen, George

From: Peterson,Jack
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2017 15:47
To: Steffen,George; Nalven,Richard
Subject: FW: Attn: Sgt Roe
Attachments: 19365.png

Captain jack Peterson

Patrol Operations - NDS
737 Louden Ave.
Dunedin, FL 34698
727-582-6901 office

jpetersonl@pcsonet.com

From: Komar,Dennis
Sent: Tuesday, June 27,201711:37 AM
To: Peterson,Jack <jpeterson1@pcsonet.com>
Subject: FW: Attn: Sgt Roe

From: Wroe,Matthew
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2017 11:04 AM
To: Komar,Dennis <dkomar@pcsonet.com>
Subject: FW: Attn: Sgt Roe

Lucia Scavo called AID in reference to Deputy Austen Callus #59401. Scavo explained the two have been
friends since high school. She has recently become concerned over snapchat posts he made. She said two days
ago he made a post in PCSO uniform about a subject with the knife. Then yesterday he made a post out of
uniform talking about almost shooting someone.

Scavo took a picture of this post and forwarded it to me via email (see attached).

Scavo explained she knows Callus was in the Army and exited after an injury. She further stated his girlfriend
recently cheated on him and he is drinking a lot. She advised she is concerned for his safety and the safety of
others.

Her contact number is 845-891-3079.

Sergeant Matt Wroe

Pinellas County Sheriffs Office
Administrative Investigation Division
727-582-5725

1
From: Lucia Scavo [mailto:luciaspasco@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2017 10:05 AM
To: Wroe,Matthew <mwroe@pcsonet.com>
Subject: Attn: Sgt Roe

Here is the only picture I have. I hope everything works out for him. Call me if need be.
Thanks,
Lucia Scavo

2
 PINELLAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
PATROL OPERATIONS BUREAU
INTER-OFFICE MEMO

DATE: June 28, 2017

TO: Captain Raymond Whitely via C.O.C.

Professional Standards Bureau

FROM: Captain Jack Peterson #52552

Patrol - North District Station

SUBJECT: Information Report - Deputy Austen Callus #59401

On June 27, 2017 I received a phone call from Lieutenant Dennis Komar reference a phone call
and a screen shot picture received by Lucia Scavo. Lucia advised that she was concerned for her
high school friend Deputy Austen Callus. Lucia contacted PCSO as she didn't know who else to
contact to express her concerns for the safety of Deputy Callus.

Information was provided that Deputy Callus had recently posted snapchat photos of himself in
his PCSO uniform while inside of his cruiser, as well as other photos in plain clothes. Lucia was
concerned about the statements that were made associated with the photos "Nothing like almost
shooting someone to set your head right 101. God I gate (should be hate) people with knives".
Lucia advised that Deputy Callus recently broke up with his girlfriend of 2 112 years because he
discovered she was cheating on him. Lucia also stated Deputy Callus has told her he is drowning
his sorrows with alcohol. Lucia lives in New York and only communicates with Deputy Callus
via social media but, believes that with the recent break up, his excess drinking and the stress of
his job she felt he was a danger to himself.

I confirmed the above information with a phone call with Lucia Scavo. I then called Deputy
Callus and instructed him to meet with me at SAB immediately.

I met with Deputy Callus and addressed the above concerns. Deputy Callus advised that he
recently broke up with his girlfriend of 2 1/2 years after discovering text messages on her phone
that she was involved with another man. The relationship is over and she will be moving out of
the house they share together.

The snapchat photos of him in a PCSO uniform and out of uniform were discussed. He indicated
that he doesn't have many friends and social media is his way of communication. He indicated
that he now knows that he should not have communicated via snapchat and that's why he called
PCSO General Counsel for guidance.

The photo that was sent of Deputy Callus seatbelted in a car, was taken on Friday June 23, 2017
by himself after crying for 2 hours reference the break up with his girlfriend. I inquired about
the allegation he has been drowning his sorrows with alcohol. He indicated that he does not
drink to excess and if he goes out for drinks he always uses an Uber.

I also inquired about his statement "Nothing like almost shooting someone to set your head right
101. God I gate (should be hate) people with knives". Deputy Callus stated it was the first time
that he was the first one to arrive on a Hot Call. He stated he had his gun drawn and was
challenging the homeowner who had been seen armed with a knife.

I explained to Deputy Callus how his social media communication (snapchat photos with
messages attached), his calling General Counsel, created this entire situation. I explained how
chain of command works, and that PCSO is his family and best friend. I offered E.A.P services,
which he declined. I instructed him to have Gulfport P.D. standby this weekend when his ex-
girlfriend moves out, and to stop the play by play of his days on social media.