Maj. Robert Anzueto will lead internal investigation
Re-establishing your reputation in the community is difficult—especially when you’re described exhibiting “a culture of silence, or a culture of cover up.”
Knowing that the first steps in doing that are the most critical, and in light of “deeply troubling” issues surfacing about the Kissimmee Police Department through the grand jury and the State Attorney’s Office, the city is turning over the reigns of what may be a wholesale overhaul of policies, procedures and departments to a veteran of the Orange County Sheriff ’s Office.
Major Robert Anzueto, who comes from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department with three decades of large-agency policing experience, will serve as the interim chief.
The unrest at KPD stems from an incident in the city on April 22, 2023, in which Officer Andrew Bassegio, based on body-worn camera evidence and testimony from other KPD members, entered a resident’s home and used excessive force in apprehending him on a battery charge. Bassegio is shown to administer multiple knee strikes to Sean Castner’s face, while other officers held Kastner’s arms, and tased him multiple times.
It was downplayed—and based on the actions and testimony of 11 members of KPD, including Chief Betty Holland, portrayed as a “policy breach” rather than a potentially criminal act—and required a grand jury investigation and State Attorney’s report to come into the light.
“We think it is important for the stakeholders and decision makers within the City of Kissimmee’s government, as well as residents and the community at large, to be aware of this evidence so they can take the appropriate action,” the grand jury’s report read.
The report found that Cpl. Takeya Close conducted the Response to Resistance (RTR) investigation into Bassegio’s encounter, and found “the officer’s response to resistance was objectively reasonable, and within department guidelines … I approve this response to resistance.”
The grand jury noted the ding came a_er taking those involved at their word, and no one within the department “ever addressed Close’s clearly erroneous conclusion.”
Holland resigned on Oct. 21 in the wake of that report coming out. The city’s response, including bringing Anzueto on board, involved reassigning or placing four other employees on administrative leave.
“The review of the facts and timelines show there were errors in former Chief Holland’s decision making,” City Manager Steigerwald said last week. “It is my responsibility to provide (KPD) and our community with a seasoned leader to make the changes necessary to correct the de iencies and restore the department’s image.”
Steigerwald touted Anzueto’s vast experience with Orange Sheriff ’s Office and Orlando Police.
“We recognize the need for change, and this marks a crucial step in that clear path forward,” he said.
With Anzueto leading the way, resources with the Orange Sheriff ’s Office will lead an inquiry into the 11 officers named in the Bassegio-Kastner incident. With Anzueto leading the way, the Orange County Sheriff ’s Office will conduct an internal investigation into the 11 officers whose conduct and testimony were called into question.
The city has asked Anzueto to review KPD’s primary areas of leadership, accountability and transparency, policies including resistance and reporting, personnel and resource analysis and training.
“This is part of the City’s commitment to addressing the issues transparently and thoroughly,” Steigerwald said. “_is is a crucial step in that process and a clear path forward toward restoring trust in our community.”
Anzueto noted he made changes on his first day to revamp the department’s internal affairs division—one that the grand jury noted often had just one investigator and “often faced a tremendous backlog of cases.”
“I am committed to moving forward with purpose and dedication, to create a culture that meets and exceeds our community’s expectations, he said. “This means going beyond what is required.”
He said changes will be centered around equipping officers with the resources and training needed to perform duties safely and effectively. He tasked staff to implement refresher training for all sworn (ocers) on crisis management, search and seizure and investigative procedures.
“It’s to foster a work environment where accountability isn’t simply viewed as a requirement, but is embraced a shared value across the agency,” Anzueto said.
Changes will be made “immediately”, and Anzueto said he’s less concerned with KPD culture that predates him, instead focusing on supporting the “outstanding” law enforcement officers of KPD.
“I’m going to meet with every single member of our agency and tell them what I expect and what they expect from me. They want to get this past them, go out and do the job and serve the community, and I support them 100 percent in doing the right things,” he said.
“I can only deal with how the culture is today. I was presented with (the grand jury dings) just a few hours ago, just like everybody else, and some things mentioned in that troubling. I need to correct that, that’s my job.”
