The case of Rocco the African Grey Parrot has ruffled feathers at Davie’s police department.
After the pricey pet escaped from his Davie home, Police Officer Bruce Chiang, 36, got involved in Rocco’s rescue and was present in a restaurant parking lot when owner Jhayson Alvarado, 25, of Davie paid a $500 reward.
Though Chiang said he attended exchange of the bird for cash as a “civilian assist,” the officer didn’t document efforts to find an owner or other actions, an internal affairs report said.
Chiang attended a four-hour ethics course Tuesday and gave up four weeks of accrued time to fulfill a 30-day suspension, the police department said.
Chiang patrols near Broward College and told investigators he found Rocco on the campus in September.
He gave Rocco to a cousin and, after learning of a missing parrot flier and reward, the cash went to that relative, he told supervisors. The cousin denied he had received the bird or the money, police reports said.
“I don’t know who took the money,” Alvarado said of the reward he left on the trunk of Chiang’s patrol car. “I was just happy to get my bird back.”
Chiang violated agency policies for rendering assistance; duty conduct; documenting evidence; conflict of interest, abuse of authority and integrity, a report signed by Davie Police Chief Patrick Lynn said.
Chiang’s union representative declined to comment.
The department doesn’t know what happened to the $500 reward but doesn’t believe it went to Chiang, Sgt. Pablo Castaneda said.
, 954-356-4233 or Twitter @LindaTrischitta
