Two commanders have been fired, a volunteer reserve deputy resigned, and three other officers were suspended following an investigation by the Orange County, Fla., Sheriff’s Department into allegations that members of the department abused their power while working as security guards for televangelist Benny Hinn and his World Outreach Center.
The six-month internal investigation, which produced a 200-page report, also cleared four other deputies of any wrongdoing.
Beginning in June 1996, Pastor Rick Johnston and members of his Volusia County congregation demonstrated in front of Hinn’s World Outreach Center in Orange County and near his former home in Seminole County. The investigation found that the protesters had been harassed and illegally arrested by deputies. The report also disclosed that Hinn, by virtue of his association with the deputies, had attained privileges beyond department policies including the running of errands during his crusades.
The two members of Sheriff Kevin Beary’s “inner circle” fired were Commander I Rusty Smallwood and Commander II Roger Clark. They were fired for falsifying off-duty records while working at the World Outreach Center, lying to investigators and abusing their positions as commanders. Smallwood also was charged with destroying records he kept on the protesters. The officers would travel with Hinn to his out-of-town healing crusades while still on the county payroll. Smallwood also admitted that he would make an additional $4,000-$5,000 a night selling tapes of his music at Hinn’s crusades.
Reserve deputy Christopher Hinn, the televangelist’s younger brother, voluntarily resigned. Hinn illegally stopped a car carrying people who had been protesting in front of his brother’s church and misrepresenting himself as a law enforcement officer. The protesters captured Hinn on videotape claiming to be “an undercover cop” and “a sheriff.” In a phone conversation with PFO, Hinn admitted his wrongdoing and expressed sorrow for his actions.
The report said both Benny Hinn and the deputies tried to extend their influence across county lines by intimidating Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger. According to the report, Smallwood said Hinn said, “Sheriff Eslinger needed to assist him or he and other ministers would denounce him on television.”
In an interview with television news reporter Jane Watrel, Hinn said,“I myself was not — and I want to repeat — was not aware of the arrest till afterwards.” Concerning the allegations of threats against Sheriff Eslinger, Hinn said: “I had heard that before, that something like this had been said to the sheriff and I got very upset. No, no, no, no, no! I did not say that, nor would I ever say that to a sheriff. My goodness gracious, look, I am a pastor with a reputation here in this city. I’m not that stupid to be saying anything like that.” Eslinger confirmed that Hinn personally had not made any threats to him.
Clark and Smallwood are appealing their firings. The
suspensions of the three other officers will all go before a
citizen’s review board.
—MKG
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Outreach, P.O. Box 26062, Saint Louis, Missouri 63136.
For more information on the doctrine and
practice of this controversial faith healer, see:
The Confusing World of Benny Hinn
