FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) A former deputy with the Florence County Sheriffs Office (FCSO), who was named in a new indictment related to an illegal gambling operation, had a history of conduct unbecoming of an officer and was fired by the department twice, according to new records obtained by News13.
Timothy Dane Keefe is among nine people named in the indictment that was filed Tuesday, as is fired FCSO Lt. & Special Response Team supervisor Mark Fuleihan. News13 has also learned that Fuleihan used to be Keefes immediate supervisor at the FCSO. Fuleihan even helped Keefe get a job with another law enforcement agency after Keefes firing, according to a typed letter from longtime Hemingway Police Chief H. Bryan Todd.
The latest indictment indicates that Keefe, Fuleihan and Dale Smith would communicate before and after various law enforcement operations. In February, weeks after Fuleihan allegedly called Keefe about upcoming gambling enforcement operations, Keefe allegedly removed & destroyed evidence before law enforcement arrived.
The indictment says a total of at least about $1,249,000 was obtained, directly or indirectly, by the nine named as a result of the allegations.
On Thursday, News13 obtained the training history report, certification documents, misconduct report forms, reports from FCSO members and personnel change in status reports surrounding former Deputy Keefe.
Keefe began working for the Florence County Sheriffs Office on Oct. 23, 2004.
On Aug. 24, 2009, alleged misconduct from Keefe was reported to the department. On a misconduct report form obtained by News13, Keefe was accused of Conduct unbecoming of an officer, public drunkenness, belligerence, rowdiness and fighting. Capt. D.L. Huggins with the FCSO wrote in a report that this was an off-duty altercation involving Deputy Keefe. The comments section on a separation supplement form indicated that Keefe had several incidents involving conduct unbecoming of an officer.
The following is a typed report sent from Sgt. Donnie McCain. Profane language has been redacted:
On August the 26th, 2009 I was contacted by Captain D.L. Huggins to come to his office. Capt. Huggins had Deputy Dane Keefe in his office. I was instructed by the Captain to ride with Deputy Keefe back to his residence and bring his patrol vehicle back to the office. On the way to the location, Deputy Keefe was very agitated and aggravated with the Captain. He immediately called his supervisor, Lt. Mark Fuleihan, and begins to cuss about Captain Huggins and the Sheriffs Office. He said f*** Donny Huggins; he wasnt going to take the three days off. He stated that if he could not go back to his team that he would quit and that he wasnt going to bring his s*** back and that we would have to come get it. He also stated that when he saw that fat f****** Brumbles he was going to beat his a**. All the way to the location he repeatedly kept saying f*** Donny Huggins and the Sheriffs Office and that he was tired of being treated unfairly. When we arrived at the location in Scranton and he got his stuff out of his vehicle, I got ready to leave and he said we would see him in booking because he was going to the hospital to beat somebodys a**. I told him not to do anything foolish. Lt. Fuleihan also heard what Deputy Keefe was saying. I came back to the office and immediately reported this information to Captain Huggins.
After this was reported to Capt. Huggins, Capt. Huggins met with then-Sheriff Kenney Boone. Then-Sheriff Boone and Capt. Huggins both felt that suspension was no longer an option, according to a report from Capt. Huggins, and that Deputy Keefe needed to either be fired or asked to resign from the department. He then called a meeting with Deputy Keefe, Keefes immediate supervisor Lt. Fuleihan and Lt. Clint Caldwell of the FCSO.
Lt. Caldwell typed up this report, which includes several mentions of Fuleihan. Profane language has been redacted:
On August 28, 2009, I, Lt. Caldwell, Capt. Huggins and Lt. Fuleihan were in Capt. Hugginss office and Deputy Dane Keefe was called to the office. Capt. Huggins began to explain to Deputy Keefe that his actions prior to this meeting were not becoming of the Sheriffs Office conduct and was not the way a Florence County Sheriffs Office deputy should behave in public. Deputy Keefe started to behave in an angry manner and began to get disorderly, stating to Capt. Huggins that he was not going to sign any f****** papers and he was not going to give him s*** and if he wanted his d*** gun and other items belonging to the Sheriffs Office he could come and get the s*** himself because he was not bringing him a d*** thing. He then stood up and reached towards Lt. Fuleihan and gave him his I.D. card. Capt. Huggins asked Deputy Keefe was he going to sign his disciplinary sheet. Deputy Keefe replied again that he was not signing a f****** thing because he didnt do anything wrong. Capt. Huggins asked Deputy Keefe to calm down. At that time, Deputy Keefe would not calm down and Capt. Huggins asked him again to calm down. Deputy Keefe would not, stating that he was f****** being treated wrong. Capt. Huggins then asked me to escort Deputy Keefe out of his office and off Sheriffs Office property. I then told Deputy Keefe that it was time to go and the meeting was over. Deputy Keefe turned to walk out the door and said, f*** it, Im going. As I, Lt. Caldwell was walking Deputy Keefe out the door, Deputy Keefe began to curse and stated that ****** f***** aint s***, that Huggins was a nasty f*****. I told Deputy Keefe to calm down and walked him to his vehicle where he gave me his Glock and a 45 caliber gun. Deputy Keefe stated he wanted to stay on property and wait for Lt. Fuleihan but I told him that he had to leave the property and I would tell Lt. Fuleihan that he wanted to see him. Deputy Keefe then got into his truck and left.
Deputy Keefe was fired from the FCSO on Aug. 28, 2009.
On Sept. 22, 2009, former director of the SC Criminal Justice Academy Hubert Harrell wrote a letter to then-Sheriff Boone. He indicated that the FCSO did not specifically indicate in previous reports what Deputy Keefe did that constituted misconduct. The letter asked Sheriff Boone to provide additional information and necessary documentation in order for the Academy to move forward in the process. There is no indication from the documents we obtained suggesting that then-Sheriff Boone sent additional documentation to the Academy about this.
News13 has not been able to get in contact with Boone. At last check, Boone was expected to undergo inpatient treatment after serving time in jail following a probation revocation from a domestic violence incident.
On Sept. 29, 2009, Keefe wrote a letter to the Academy. This was a rebuttal in response to the FCSO stating that he was terminated for misconduct. He indicates that he requested an investigation into the reason for his firing. Keefe said in the letter that Capt. Huggins had said in a previous meeting that Keefe was being demoted to patrol. Keefe said he asked for written statements or complaints related to this matter but says Capt. Huggins told him he couldnt provide that documentation at the time. Keefe indicated in his letter that he was not fired because of conduct unbecoming of an officer, but rather because of a personal conflict with him and Capt. Huggins.
On Oct. 19, 2009, Hemingway Police Chief H. Bryan Todd wrote a letter to the Academy, after Keefe applied for a position with the Hemingway Police Department. In it, he indicates that Lt. Fuleihan had very positive things to say about Keefes time with the FCSO.
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter is in reference to Timothy Dane Keefe which has applied for a officer position with the Hemingway Police Department, and Per our telephone conversation of October 16, 2009 I have checked Keefes references which included contacting Lt. Mark Fuleihan of the Florence County Sheriffs Office.
Lt. Fuleihan stated Mr. Keefe was one of the most outstanding officers he ever had the pleasure of training. It is my understanding Mr. Keefe was not involved in any misconduct.
Im requesting that Mr. Keefes certification be reviewed by the Academy, and a decision made in reference to his employment with my agency. If you have any questions or concerns, please dont hesitate to contact me.
Upon obtaining that letter, News13 contacted Chief Todd on Thursday for his reaction to the news that both individuals mentioned in his letter have been named in a new indictment. Chief Todd said he was surprised to hear about the allegations.
According to Keefes training history report, Keefe began working for the Hemingway Police Department on Oct. 19, 2009, the same day his letter was sent to the SC Criminal Justice Academy.
On a document dated Oct. 20, 2009 and signed Oct. 21, 2009, the Academy provided training and/or certification documents to Chief Todd. The comments section indicated that the FCSO was requested to provide additional documentation about Keefes alleged misconduct but has refused to do so, according to the document. As a result, Academy Director Harrell rendered Keefe eligible for certification. This letter went on to say, Mr. Keefes separation from the Florence County Sheriffs Office will be amended to reflect that he was not terminated for misconduct.
Less than two months after his hiring at the Hemingway Police Department, Keefe resigned, on Dec. 10, 2009. For the first time, Chief Todd is explaining why.
Eleven years after Keefes departure from his department, Chief Todd said Thursday that its because Keefe did not want to participate in putting up Christmas lights prior to the holiday. Chief Todd says putting up the Christmas lights is a normal practice for his department, in a small town. Chief Todd said Thursday that Keefe didnt work out in his department based on the way the department operates.
According to a training history report, Keefe then worked with the Lake City Police Department from Dec. 29, 2009 to April 13, 2010. It is not clear what led to his exit from the department.
On April 24, 2010, Keefe was re-hired by the FCSO. On Thursday morning, News13 sent a Freedom Of Information Act request to longtime FCSO Major Mike Nunn, the spokesperson for the department, to ask why Keefe was re-hired. We are awaiting a response. If we get additional information, we will add to this article.
The illegal gambling operation indictment filed this week says, From on or about Jan. 2012, and continuously thereafter up to and including the date of this Indictment, the exact dates being unknown to the Grand Jury, Timothy Dane Keefe, Dale Smith, and others ran an illegal gambling business in the District of South Carolina as alleged in Count I. This would indicate that Keefe was allegedly involved in this activity while he and Fuleihan were part of the FCSO.
On April 5, 2013, Keefe was fired once again by the FCSO, this time for violation of agency policy, according to a personnel change in status report from the Academy. It is not clear what the violation was or if it was related to the illegal gambling operation. News13 also asked Major Nunn about this violation of agency policy and we are waiting to hear back. If we get additional information about this violation, we will add to this article.
News13 will continue to stay on top of developments in this criminal investigation involving former, local law enforcement officers and others.
In April, News13 obtained Fuleihans law enforcement training history report. You can take a look at that by clicking here.
Fuleihan is expected in court for a hearing on Nov. 4. Count on News13 for updates.
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