J.D. Gallop

FLORIDA TODAY

A Palm Bay police officer was fired following an internal investigation into reports that he had inappropriate contact with a teenage girl, patting her down and asking questions about her undergarments during her court-ordered home detention.

The case had been turned over to the state attorney's office for a review although prosecutors have declined to pursue charges in the investigation. It was not immediately known if the officer, identified as 38-year-old Terrance Glover, was appealing the department's decision to end his employment.

Earlier this month, Police Chief Mark Renkens notified Glover that he was being fired for violating rules of conduct and issues of public trust following an investigation into the teen’s claims several months ago.

“It has been determined that by committing these violations that you have raised obvious questions as to your ability to maintain public trust,” Renkins told Glover in a letter issued Dec. 17. An internal affairs investigation was also conducted into the allegations.

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“There is a preponderance of evidence to indicate that you did engage in a pattern of conduct that was contrary to the good order, discipline, or accepted standards of conduct of the police service, and that behavior with this juvenile that was outside the scope of your duties or the requirements of a juvenile check,” he added.

Glover, who is married and whose family has law enforcement ties, was hired by the agency in 2007 after working with the Cocoa Police Department and that agency's SWAT team. He worked as a patrol officer and like other officers, would occasionally check on teen offenders and other youth under juvenile court sanctions such as home detention.

Renkens said the investigation showed that the teen had a "well-founded" fear of Officer Glover to the point that she was even afraid to open her door when other officers arrived to follow up on other criminal investigative matters.

The girl told investigators that Glover called her "Cutie," and would ask her what color her undergarments were.

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The girl, who told detectives she would rather be charged with probation than to answer the door to Glover, also said the officer asked her sexually-leading questions about her tongue piercing and the relationship with her boyfriend.

Glover denied the girl’s allegations and also told authorities he suspected the teen of stealing money and prescription drugs from her mother, although he failed to report that information to others overseeing her case. Glover also said another Palm Bay police officer had made inappropriate comments toward the same teen but the status of those claims were not released.