DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA: A police officer couple has admitted to handcuffing and jailing their three-year-old toddler in an attempt to discipline him for potty training difficulties. The shocking revelations came to light through body camera footage obtained by the Daytona Beach News-Journal, showing Lieutenant Michael Schoenbrod and Detective Sergeant Jessica Long carrying out the alarming disciplinary measures at the Daytona Beach Shores Public Safety Department in October of last year.
Handcuffing and Jailing
The footage reportedly captured Lieutenant Schoenbrod stating that he successfully taught his young son a lesson by incarcerating him on consecutive days. Troublingly, he even confessed to handcuffing the child during the second day of what he referred to as "discipline." The video further reveals Lieutenant Schoenbrod's discussion with a Department of Children and Families caseworker, where he claimed to have obtained the expected response from his son, who was crying and distressed.
"He was crying. I was getting the response I expected from him," Lieutenant Schoenbrod allegedly stated to the caseworker, per the footage reviewed by the News-Journal. He claimed that his older child had also been subjected to similar treatment in the past but for different reasons, and he saw fit to apply it again to his younger son.
The lieutenant recounted an incident nearly nine years ago when he had placed his four-year-old child in jail after misbehavior at preschool. "I took him to the jail and he sat there," Schoenbrod allegedly told the caseworker. "And I watched him ... and he was crying and everything, and to this day, if you mention like that incident, he's just like, 'I would never do it again.' It was effective." He continued, "So that's why I did it with this. He didn't hit anybody, but I figured the same thing, discipline. And he didn't want to go back, so..."
Legal Consequences
Detective Sergeant Jessica Long, who was present during the incident, reportedly expressed her discontent with the investigation launched by the Department of Children and Families, deeming it "insane." Meanwhile, Lieutenant Schoenbrod described the situation as "disgusting," stating that his family was being unfairly dragged through the mud.
The professional backgrounds of the involved officers were also detailed in the report. Lieutenant Michael Schoenbrod served as an operations lieutenant and had previously worked as a SWAT Team Commander, amassing nearly 20 years of experience in the police force. Detective Sergeant Jessica Long oversaw the Criminal Investigations Unit and Background Investigations, with nine years of service to the Daytona Beach Shores Department of Public Safety, per their respective LinkedIn profiles.
The repercussions faced by Lieutenant Schoenbrod and Detective Sergeant Jessica Long from city officials remain uncertain at this time. The Daytona Beach News-Journal obtained a memo written by Public Safety Director Michael Fowler, which notified them of an ongoing professional standards investigation. However, the findings and details of the investigation were not made public. Furthermore, a sealed lawsuit filed against the couple by the State Attorney's Office on March 24, as well as another lawsuit they filed against State Attorney RJ Larizza on May 18, added to the opacity surrounding the case.
Lack of Transparency
According to the News-Journal, the only observable action taken against the couple was the deduction of 20 hours of unpaid leave from their May paystubs. This lack of transparency and secrecy surrounding the case has raised concerns among legal experts and members of the public. Lonnie Groot, a former city attorney, expressed his disappointment in the City Commission's response, questioning why they appeared passive and non-transparent in this matter involving law enforcement officers.
"I cannot imagine the City Commission tolerating and standing mute about a city employee bringing a child to City Hall and punishing the child in the City Commission chambers," Groot wrote to his successor Becky Vose as he sought answers, adding, "Why, then, does the City Commission act so meek, powerless, and non-transparent as to this matter involving law enforcement officers?"
The Florida Center for Government Accountability, led by Michael Barfield, announced plans to file a motion seeking hearings to challenge the confidentiality of the records related to this case.
