Investigation affirms complaints against former Lee deputy

FORT MYERS, Fla. — A Lee County Sheriff’s Office internal affairs investigation concluded that former deputy Charles Quackenbush committed improper conduct when he made racially insensitive posts on his Facebook page.

Quackenbush, an 11-year veteran of the force and former California state insurance commissioner, submitted a letter of retirement after the investigation began.

The investigation cited Quackenbush for violating sheriff’s office rules against derogatory remarks and conduct unbecoming an officer.

Detective Travis Hicks, who wrote the investigation report, said the memes weren’t necessarily racist but made Quackenbush’s views on several political topics clear. One of the memes was “in poor taste, especially as a law enforcement officer.”

Quackenbush told investigators he made the posts because he wanted to expose dangerous attitudes about police.

The posts were made to Quackenbush’s personal account, but Hicks cited photos of Quackenbush in uniform on the account as reason for investigating the private page.

The photos were brought to the sheriff’s office’s attention by Judith Piesco, a candidate for the Lee County school board in 2004. Quackenbush’s wife, Chris, is a current Lee County school board candidate.