Two police officers in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida, are under investigation following allegations that they jailed their three-year-old son on two separate occasions in October 2022 due to potty training accidents. The incident came to light through bodycam footage obtained by local media, which shows the child's father, a lieutenant with the Daytona Beach Shores Department of Public Safety, being interviewed by a state child abuse investigator.
In the interview, the father admitted to placing his son in a jail cell, stating, "He was crying. I was getting the response I expected from him." He explained that he handcuffed the child on the second occasion. The father defended his actions by saying he had exhausted various potty training methods, including books and letting the child run around without pants. He told the investigator he explained to his son that as a police officer, he takes "bad boys" who break the law to jail. He then placed the child in a cell for 13 minutes, monitoring him throughout.
The child's mother, a detective with the same police department, also participated in the interview, expressing her belief that they hadn't done anything wrong and that the investigation was "the definition of insanity." She claimed that people were misinterpreting their actions.
The father further revealed that he had used the same method with his older son nine years prior after the child admitted to hitting a girl in preschool. He claimed that the approach was effective, and his older son never repeated the behavior. He reasoned that similar disciplinary action would be appropriate for his younger son's potty training accidents.
The Daytona Beach Shores Department of Public Safety has declined to comment on the investigation, citing a court order. The city's public information officer, Tammy Marzik, stated that they strive for transparency but are legally restricted from discussing the matter at this time.
