PARKLAND, FL. (WSVN) – A former Broward Sheriff’s Office captain is accused of keeping secrets while downplaying crimes in his district, including an incident involving firearms found at a Parkland school that sparked concern.
On June 2, authorities say, two firearms were brought to the Somerset Parkland Academy campus and left unsecured by the school’s principal, Geyler Castro.
According to an Internal Affairs report, BSO Capt. Craig Calavetta, Parkland District Manager, told deputies not to retrieve the surveillance video and did not alert the BSO’s Threat Management Unit, which is the protocol.
Very few people knew about the incident, including parents.
“What the heck? What the heck, oh my God,” parent Jincy Matthews said on June 3.
The report says Calavetta told detectives to keep a low profile and “keep quiet.”
The initial investigation was delayed even after other deputies believed a crime had been committed.
7News was notified on June 2 and WSVN editor Sofia Alonso emailed BSO. This information is also included in the internal affairs report.
“It’s scary. Are you telling me? It’s scary,” Matthews said.
With media attention and news reports, BSO’s threat management unit was eventually alerted.
The Office of Inspector General has also begun to investigate, as well as BSO’s internal affairs. The investigation led to further Calavetta cover-ups.
According to the report, Calavetta “attempted to downgrade a robbery to robbery because the suspect was a physician who resided in Parkland.” Months later, he tried to “downgrade a burglary” because he couldn’t “keep robbing the city” and didn’t want to tell the city manager about it.
In both cases, the deputies opposed Calavetta and did not reclassify the crimes.
Ultimately, according to a memo, Calavetta violated several policies and was demoted to an assistant serving in another area.
Castro, meanwhile, was charged with misdemeanors and reassigned to another position at the school.
Calavetta began his career at Parkland in 1991 as a Civil Service Assistant. In 1999 he started his highway patrol with BSO. He is currently serving at West Broward, but his ability remains unknown.
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