PSL police officer quits as investigation finds improper handling of lewd/lascivious case
PORT ST. LUCIE − A Port St. Lucie Police officer quit as an investigation began that ultimately found he improperly handled a sex-related crime report and investigation, recently-released records show.
Officer Dylan Krecic resigned Jan. 19, shortly after being told of the internal police investigation.
Krecic, who’d been on administrative leave stemming from an unrelated investigation, joined the police in June 2019 after working about a year with the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office, records show.
The investigation began after police in November 2023 got a letter from “Inner Truth Project” regarding a “mishandled incident” involving a crime reported to Krecic.
Police found the incident report, titled by Krecic as a “sexual lewd / lascivious act,” was filed July 7, 2022, and was closed 11 days later.
Police found that rather than speaking with the victim in a private office, Krecic “conducted the interview with the victim over a courtesy phone … in the lobby of the police station,” records state.
The victim disclosed inappropriate touches in the conversation with Krecic.
The phone is near the records window and in an area open to people seeking records and other matters. In the conversation, other people could be heard. At one point the victim told Krecic she was experiencing a “trauma response,” and Krecic “responded with blunt answers to her concerns,” records show.
Police stated the first responding officer must notify a supervisor and request additional resources if needed, such as a sexual assault assistance counselor, detective or crime scene investigator.
Police found Krecic didn’t notify a supervisor and request a detective or counselor, nor did he try to question a witness or the victim’s husband who was at the police station at the time.
Further, police found Krecic didn’t inform the victim of her legal rights and remedies and other matters.
“Officer Krecic also failed to adequately advise the victim about her options if the suspect’s friends or family threaten or otherwise intimidate her,” records show.
The suspect requested a Spanish speaker. Rather than follow proper procedure, Krecic didn’t request a certified interpreter and didn’t use a law enforcement officer as an interpreter, police found.
Police found “he briefed a civilian employee to ask questions and translate the response to him,” records show.
“This resulted in an interview that was not thorough and complete as it lacked sufficient clarity during the questioning and follow-up with the responses,” records state.
Another detective was assigned to investigate the case in November 2023, and he submitted an arrest warrant affidavit for battery against the suspect.
Prosecutors denied the warrant in December 2023, noting in part the “substantial delay” between the alleged touching and when it was reported.
Police found Krecic violated three policies related to inefficiency of duty.
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Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: PSL police officer quits amid lewd case mishandling investigation
