Police Profile 2: SFPD Officer C. Davis (#286)
In November 2024, Santa Fe College (SFC) Police Department (SFPD) Officer Christopher Daniel Davis gained notoriety among campus faculty after being caught on body-worn camera (BWC) video making disparaging comments about students.
An employee corrective action report filed on December 5, 2024, shows Davis was placed on a six-month probation and required to attend crisis intervention and QPR suicide training for "making unprofessional comments concerning the [U.S. presidential] election, mental health, and suicide hotlines."
Davis has a long history with SFC, with a reference on his application revealing that his father worked as a lieutenant for SFPD and his mother was coordinator of admissions.
Davis worked as a dispatcher for SFPD from October 2007 to June 2008 before leaving for a job at the Ormond Beach Police Department (OBPD), located on the East Coast of Florida a few miles north of Daytona.
Upon requesting Davis’ full disciplinary/internal affairs history from OBPD, they responded with a disciplinary notice for being late to a meeting.
In June 2018, Davis left OBPD to work for the Fort Pierce Police Department (FPPD), located roughly 60 miles north of West Palm Beach.
A public records request by GnvInfo to FPPD found that Davis had eight allegations of misconduct from his time at the department, six of which were sustained.
In June 2019, FPPD Deputy Chief Robert Ridle (at the time acting chief) sent an email to Detective Gary Eason that stated the following:
“I have reviewed Lieutenant Christman's Service Related Investigation concerning Officer Chris Davis not writing a report after investigating an altercation he investigated on February 23, 2019. The complainant alleged she was intimidated by Davis, and this is why she told him she did not want to press charges at the time. I concur with Lieutenant Christman that Officer Davis acted in a professional, courteous manner, and the complainant stated that she did not wish for the other party to be arrested. Lieutenant Christman wrote that Davis could have been in violation of our Reporting Procedures Policy 82.200, which states a report will be written in ‘Any situation the officer feels may generate a citizen complaint…’ Officer Davis believed he was dealing with a minor disturbance, involving mutual parties, with the party most likely the victim not wanting to press charges… The complainant at the time mentioned that she was possibly injured, though there were no apparent signs of injury and she was not specific how she was injured. Given that information, a report should have been written. Also, both Officer Davis and Officer Johnnie Colvin turned off their body worn cameras at the conclusion of the call and did not turn them back on when the complainant reengaged them. The officers should have turned their cameras back on.”
Riddle reported that Davis would be exonerated, but he was ultimately found sustained and required to take remedial training.
Davis was among several FPPD officers accused in a 2022 internal investigation of alleged improper force that was unfounded by an internal investigator.
In December 2022, Davis was found in violation of FPPD policies and procedures. The report states Davis “received the 911 dispatched call at [5:17 p.m.] regarding a vessel that was beached at the Causeway Cove Marina, with several people exiting the boat and running. Upon his arrival, Officer Davis said he saw the boat beached on the sandbar but assumed it was just a ‘party boat.’ He failed to inspect or have the boat checked for injured people or illicit contraband. Officer Davis cleared the call 38 seconds after arriving on the scene. Following this incident, it was discovered that Officer Davis failed to activate his Body Worn Camera subsequent to responding to the initial dispatched call.”
FPPD officers and St. Lucie County deputies later discovered that the vessel was not a “party boat” but was in fact transporting 25 Haitian immigrants. The 25 immigrants were reportedly “transported to the St. Lucie County Jail, where they received medical care, food and were administratively processed.”
Davis was notified that failing to correct his actions may result in suspension or termination and he was required to meet with his supervisor for additional BWC training.
In November 2023, Davis applied for a position at SFPD. In his application he wrote, “During my current Police Officer role, I honed my abilities in safety and security and emergency response, providing a firm foundation for the Police Officer position. My problem solving abilities, people-centric nature, and compassion have afforded me the skills necessary for serving the community. I am excited to contribute my talents and proficiency in this career toward your team efforts. As an engaging communicator with a proven track record in criminal law, my focus on building strong professional relationships has been a beneficial asset throughout my career…. I'm eager to discuss how my personality and background fit the Police Officer role with your Agency.”
Davis wrote on his application that his responsibilities at FPPD included “thoroughly [analyzing] criminal information and [processing] crime scenes.”
Throughout his time at FPPD, Davis was placed under a supervisor review several times for allegedly canceling scheduled details without giving proper notification.
On March 16, 2024, Davis began working for SFPD.
In November 2024, the day after Donald Trump was elected president, Davis and another SFPD officer were dispatched to the B-building at the northwest campus regarding a gun possession incident. While waiting for the suspect, Davis called a student a “disgruntled Kamala supporter” as she walked by. Davis went on to joke about the increase in suicide hotline calls following Trump’s election.
The gun possession incident combined with Davis’ comments caused controversy among campus faculty. Nearly an entire senate meeting was dedicated to SFPD’s response and Davis’ comments while waiting for the suspect.
The employee corrective action report states, “Law enforcement professionals are held to a higher standard due to the nature of their work and the responsibility they carry in maintaining public trust. That type of statement can quickly erode this trust and can damage the reputation of the department. It is crucial to understand that all actions, especially those in the workplace are subject to review and scrutiny.”
Editor's Notes: This report cost a total of $116.36 due to the cost of records. If you'd like to support GnvInfo you can do so by clicking here.
