Tom Lake: On a warm fall night two years ago, as the moon rose over Lake Tarpon, a silver Nissan Pathfinder rolled down a boat ramp and plunged into water the color of dark chocolate.
No one was inside as the Pathfinder sank. Its registered owner was Robert Scott Gattuso, a resident of New Port Richey. He said it had been stolen.
Gattuso was a Pasco County sheriff's deputy. He was paid to investigate others. Now he found himself under investigation.
Again.
In two decades with the agency, Gattuso has been investigated for 30 possible policy violations. Thirteen of the allegations were sustained, including discourtesy, insubordination, conduct unbecoming, conflict of interest and attempted forgery. In one case, Sheriff Bob White kept him suspended, with pay, for more than a year - meaning Gattuso collected nearly $48,000 for no work - and then returned him to the road, with a badge and a .40-caliber Glock, to enforce the laws of Florida.
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