Police Profile: GPD Sgt. Jeffery Kerkau (#767)
Jeffery Dale Kerkau has made a career in law enforcement at the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) over the past two decades. During his time with the department, he’s been subject to internal investigation on numerous occasions and named in a controversial lawsuit.
Background:
Kerkau began working for GPD in April 2007.
When applying to GPD, Kerkau disclosed that in 2001 he was convicted of carrying an open container of alcohol in a mall parking lot.
Prior to his swearing-in ceremony, Kerkau wrote that his long-term goals include making the K-9 unit and retiring from GPD, his personnel file shows.
Kerkau joined the SWAT team in 2010.
Also in 2010, Kerkau made a Facebook post that states:
In 2012, Kerkau achieved his goal of making the K-9 unit and left the SWAT team.
In 2017, Kerkau was promoted to corporal before becoming a sergeant in 2020.
May 2014 K-9 Incidents:
In May 2014, Kerkau was simultaneously subject to two internal investigations for two separate incidents where his K-9 bit a minor child.
GPD Internal Affairs (IA) began investigating both incidents on May 15, 2014.
Rawlings Elementary Incident
On May 9, 2014, Kerkau and his K-9 arrived at Rawlings Elementary for a police demonstration at a school festival.
The IA report says, “Canine demonstrations have been conducted since the inception of the GPD Canine Unit and were established as a community outreach program for GPD.”
According to the IA report, Kerkau conducted the demonstration in a fenced-in area with a crowd of 200, mostly students, watching.
Kerkau decided to show how he would search for a suspect, believing it was safe to do so because of the fence.
As Kerkau guided the K-9 along the fence, a student began shaking it and reportedly yelled at the dog.
The IA report states, “Initially it did not appear that [the K-9] was aware of [the child’s] actions as he stayed focused on the search. Officer Kerkau testified that he yelled towards [the child] to stop shaking the fence but he was unsure if [he] had heard him. It was at this point that [the K-9] lifted his head and looked towards [the child]. [The K-9] was directly beside the gate. Simultaneously, the gate which [the child] was shaking began to come open. [The child] turned around and started to run. [The K-9] reacted and then ran through the partially open gate and after [the child.] At this point it was obviously a very chaotic scene with people running around and screaming. Officer Kerkau observed what happened and tried to recall [the K-9] but was unable to get a response, likely due to the noise from the crowd. [The K-9] then caught [the child] on his thigh causing him to fall to the ground. Officer Kerkau ran over as quickly as he could and thrust his hand into [the K-9’s] mouth trying to limit the pressure of his bite. He then ordered [the K-9] to release his hold. The bite occurred approximately three to four feet away from the open gate.”
Witnesses interviewed by police indicated that many of the children were shaking the fence and couldn’t concretely identify how the gate opened.
Several parents interviewed by police described a “lack of supervision” at the festival.
According to the IA report, “Officer Kerkau stated this was the last thing he ever wanted to occur during a canine demonstration. He stated he was shocked by what took place as he has performed multiple public demonstrations during his tenure…nothing like this had ever happened. Officer Kerkau stated he has run the incident in his mind constantly since it took place and felt that there was nothing that he could have done to prevent it from happening beyond just not doing the area search demonstration all together. He felt at the time that the five foot fence created a safe barrier during the previous exercises and there was nothing foreseen that would have given an indication that it would not continue to do so. That being said, Officer Kerkau stated that he was completely remorseful to what had happened to [the child].”
The IA investigation found Kerkau exhibited no misconduct because the gate opened as a result of being shaken, and there wasn’t enough time to stop the police dog from biting the child.
Felony Suspect Tracking Incident
On May 11, 2014, Kerkau responded to the area of Northeast Gainesville to assist his colleagues in tracking a felony suspect.
According to the IA report, “Officer Kerkau conducted a felony track which led to a yard... It appears that the track was consistent with the flight path of the suspect. Officer Kerkau’s police dog alerted a vehicle in the driveway. Officer Kerkau shined his flashlight in the vehicle to reveal a female who was not the suspect laying down in the front seat. The female began screaming out of fear. Officer Kerkau responded by backing away from the vehicle and shortening the length of his leash. While notifying his back up officer of the female in the van, his police dog unintentionally came in contact with [an uninvolved minor] who was behind the vehicle [and] was sitting on a cooler... The yard was very dark due to the time of night and no exterior lights being illuminated. Officer Kerkau was using light discipline when entering the yard for officer safety reasons. Officer Kerkau did not have time to react before his dog was able to bite.”
The K-9 injured the child’s left thigh and his mother was informed of the incident.
The IA report states Kerkau didn’t violate any K-9 procedural guidelines but did exhibit "inefficiency in job performance.”
Kerkau’s supervisor was notified “to ensure that he has adequate knowledge in the area identified as deficient and provide additional training if required,” the internal investigation states.
Alleged Excessive Force Against Bobby Rentz:
Kerkau was placed under internal investigation in 2019 for allegedly using excessive force with a K-9 when arresting Bobby Rentz, who passed away in 2022.
On June 21, 2019, Rentz was pulled over by Officer Burwell, and Rentz notified him that he was driving without a license. Burwell began doing a warrants check, and Rentz "spontaneously" fled the scene, the IA report states. Rentz reportedly shoved Burwell to the ground when he tried to catch up to him.
Kerkau and his K-9 responded as backup and tracked Rentz to a nearby house.
According to the citizen complaint form that is described in the IA report, Rentz alleged that when Kerkau walked into the residence, he was in the backyard and said as loud as possible, “I’m right here sir… I’m not going to resist.” Rentz alleged that he was sitting with his back against the wall, his knees in front of him, and his hands above his head. Rentz said Kerkau made visual contact with him and told him to “stop resisting” before allowing his K-9 to bite him for five to six minutes.
In a supplemental report on the incident, Kerkau said that when he approached the side of the house, he “heard a moan” and “illuminated this dark area and observed [the K-9] apprehending Rentz on his left leg.”
Kerkau reported that Rentz was “lying in the corner where the house meets the fence and attempting to conceal himself behind a chair.”
The IA report states, “Corporal Kerkau began to give loud verbal commands for Mr. Rentz to show his hands. Mr. Rentz did, and as Corporal Kerkau began to approach him to remove [the K-9], Mr. Rentz put his right hand down out of view, so Corporal Kerkau encouraged [the K-9] to maintain his hold. Corporal Kerkau again commanded Mr. Rentz to show his hands, which he did, and Corporal Kerkau removed [the K-9]. Mr. Rentz was then secured in handcuffs by Officer Burwell.”
According to the IA report, body camera footage shows the K-9 held Rentz for half a minute instead of five to six minutes.
Kerkau was unfounded of violating any GPD policies, with the internal investigation concluding, “The use of a Police K9 to assist in the apprehension of Mr. Rentz was found to be within policy. Mr. Rentz had committed a forcible felony (battery on a Law Enforcement Officer). Lesser force was ineffective when he failed to comply with verbal commands to stop, and the deployment of the Taser was ineffective. Mr. Rentz had a tactical advantage while hiding in the darkness, concealing his location. Mr. Rentz had also not been searched prior to his flight, so it was unknown if he was armed with a weapon. Mr. Rentz had an opportunity to alert law enforcement to his location, and he made a choice not to.”
Preventable Crash:
In March 2021, Kerkau made headlines around Gainesville for his involvement in a crash that left him hospitalized and his patrol car totaled. No other people were hurt or vehicles damaged in the incident.
The incident was classified as a major crash due to the damage being over $15,000.
GPD IA completed a report on the incident, but the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) investigated the crash, and the IA report is based on the results of the FHP investigation.
GnvInfo obtained photos of the crash, which haven’t been released publicly until now.
A witness told police he was traveling on Newberry Road, driving about 50 miles per hour (MPH). The witness said Kerkau drove past him at what he estimated to be 65 MPH. The witness said that after Kerkau passed him, he “went sideways across the roadway and crashed into a tree.”
A state trooper gave Kerkau a citation, but he contested it in court, and it was dismissed by Senior Judge Aymer “Buck” Curtin.
Kerkau said the conditions of the tires were a contributing factor to the crash.
Kerkau’s actions were found to have directly contributed to the crash, and he received an employee notice and a two-week loss of take-home car privileges.
Discrimination Lawsuit:
Kerkau was named in a racial discrimination lawsuit by former GPD K-9 unit officer Edward Ratliff against the City of Gainesville. Filed in 2021, the case was dismissed in 2023, but Ratliff successfully appealed, and the suit was ultimately closed last month after both parties agreed to settle in lieu of a trial, court records show.
According to the lawsuit, Ratliff asked his colleagues on the K-9 unit to stop calling him the nickname “radio.” When Ratliff told his colleagues he felt like they were demeaning him, Kerkau allegedly responded, “Yes, we know. That’s why it's funny.”
The lawsuit alleges Kerkau said, “There’s some [n-words] in the wood pile” after learning a minority officer was subject to internal investigation.
When Ratliff complained about the frequent use of the n-word around the K-9 unit, Kerkau told him it was alright because “Black people use the word all the time,” the suit alleged.
Inappropriate Conduct with Civilian:
On December 1, 2023, Officer Erin Armstrong was involved in a vehicle crash with a man identified as Carlos when she hit his phone and hand with her rearview mirror when she backed out of his driveway.
Carlos asked for a supervisor, and Armstrong, who was already in contact with Kerkau, her supervisor, told him Carlos was saying she hit him with her car. Kerkau did not respond to the incident despite being required by GPD policy, and instead told Armstrong to leave the scene.
Carlos went to the GPD lobby to report the incident and recorded his interaction with Kerkau. First Amendment auditor Blue Steel Audits obtained Kerkau’s body camera footage from the incident and published it on YouTube.
Kerkau viewed the video of Armstrong handing Carlos the case report card before hitting him with her vehicle.
While watching the videos, Kerkau commented that Carlos’ English “seems pretty good” before asking to confirm if he does speak English.
Carlos said, “Yeah,” and Kerkau responded, “I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, so I know people that speak both."
Kerkau asked Carlos where he grew up, and he said Puerto Rico.
When showing the part of the video where Armstrong hit him, Carlos said, “I asked her for her name, and she backed up.”
Kerkau said, “Did you approach her, or did she approach you,” implying the crash was Carlos’ fault.
Kerkau told Carlos he had more video of him standing in front of Armstrong’s car when she tried to leave, but IA investigators later determined he didn’t stand in a way that prevented her from leaving.
Kerkau told Carlos, “Are you from Puerto Rico… What do the cops do in Puerto Rico?”
“They would talk to you,” Carlos said.
Kerkau and Carlos went back and forth about the allegation of him standing in front of Armstrong’s car before Kerkau got within inches of him to give him an example of “getting up in people’s personal space.” Kerkau did it again a few moments later.
Kerkau continued telling Carlos he was in the wrong for approaching Armstrong’s vehicle before saying, “I’m done watching your videos.”
Kerkau said on the body camera video that he told Armstrong to leave the scene because Carlos was recording.
Kerkau told Carlos it's “not normal” to want to refrain from providing a police officer your name and date of birth. Kerkau said Carlos should’ve provided his name and birthday if he “has nothing to hide.”
As Kerkau walked away, he told Carlos, “You can fill out a form; you speak perfectly good Spanish. Your Spanish—or your English is very good. I’m pretty sure your English is pretty good, so you can fill out a form and file a complaint.”
According to the IA report, Carlos' complaint alleged that Kerkau specifically demanded he speak English and acted in a discriminatory manner towards him, but IA investigators determined that wasn’t the case. However, the IA report concurs that Kerkau’s demeanor was inattentive and inpatient.
When IA asked Kerkau why he didn’t report the incident between Carlos and Armstrong as a crash, he said he “did not think of the impact as a department vehicle crash.”
Kerkau was found sustained for "inefficiency in job performance" and given a written warning.
Administrative Offenses:
According to a March 2015 GPD administrative action report, Keraku admitted he didn’t show up at a deposition because he forgot about it due to having a mandatory meeting that day followed by training. He was given a written warning.
According to a September 2018 GPD administrative action report, Kerkau didn’t show up to another deposition, stating it “slipped his mind” because he was training K-9 teams for certification. He was given a written warning.
According to a September 2023 GPD Blue Team Action Report, Keraku allowed an officer under his command to conduct an improper child abuse investigation that wasn’t within the department’s jurisdiction. He was found sustained for “inefficiency in job performance” and punished with verbal counseling.
Disclaimer: Ratliff's lawsuit contains uncensored racial slurs due to quoting alleged remarks by GPD K-9 unit officers.
