Associated Press
A Miami-Dade County police lieutenant who was also a high-ranking member of a police union has been arrested on rape charges stemming from an alleged incident at a police union gala last month in Palm Beach Gardens.
Jail records show John Jenkins was arrested late Friday on two counts of sexual battery. He was released Saturday.
The Miami Herald says Jenkins resigned last week as executive vice president of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association.
“I’m shocked and extremely disturbed by the charges,” union president Steadman Stahl told the newspaper Saturday.
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On Friday, Miami-Date Police Department lieutenant John Jenkins Jr. was charged with sexual battery and then promptly booked into Palm Beach County Jail according to police.
Miami-Dade police officer accused of sexual battery May 8, 2021 at 12:16 PM EDT - Updated May 8 at 12:16 PM
A South Florida police officer is facing sex charges after an alleged incident at PGA National Resort in late April.
Palm Beach Gardens police charged John Jenkins, a lieutenant with Miami-Dade Police, with sexual battery and attempted sexual battery.
According to police, Jenkins followed the victim into her hotel room, where she says he sexually assaulted her.
The alleged incident occurred after the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association Gala in Jupiter.
Published reports say Jenkins resigned last week as the executive vice president of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association.
Miami Police lieutenant arrested on rape charges in Palm Beach
“As law enforcement officers we are held to a higher standard in society, on and off duty, said police director Alfredo Ramirez
Lt. John Jenkins Jr., with 20 years of experience in law enforcement, was booked on Friday at Palm Beach County Jail and currently faces two counts of sexual assault and battery, according to
Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez released an official statement where he expressed his disappointment in Jenkins’ actions.
“As law enforcement officers we are held to a higher standard in society, on and off duty. Immediately after being notified of an incident that occurred off duty on April 25, 2021, in the City of Palm Beach Gardens, I ordered for John Jenkins Jr. to be relieved of his official duties as a Miami-Dade Police Department lieutenant,” the statement said.
Miami-Dade police lieutenant faces rape charges
Published: May 8, 2021 8:06 PM EDT
Updated: May 9, 2021 8:17 AM EDT
The Miami-Dade Police Department announced the arrest of one of their own Saturday morning.
Lt. John Jenkins Jr., with more than 20 years of law enforcement experience, faces rape charges. He was booked into a Palm Beach County jail late Friday.
Video shows Jenkins leaving the Palm Beach main detention facility after being arrested.
According to the case files, Jenkins was charged with two counts of sexual assault and battery.
Those charges allegedly stemmed from an incident that occurred while Jenkins was in Palm Beach Gardens at the Police Benevolent Association Officers’ Ball back in April.