Marco police officer was demoted from leadership position days before resigning

Public records show the Marco Island officer who resigned Thursday was demoted days before leaving the Police Department.

A public records request by the Naples Daily News revealed Sgt. Brian Granneman was demoted back to patrolman, effective Oct. 1, after police administration determined he did not demonstrate the ability to serve in the leadership position.

Granneman was one of the four now-former officers recently named in a prospective lawsuit against the city. The prospective suit alleges violations of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and physical, sexual and mental abuse.

He resigns:Last remaining Marco cop tied to sex on duty scandal, trafficking complaint resigns

A woman who had sexual relationships with three on-duty officers — James Inlow, Neil Giansanti and Kevin Hennings — between 2015 and 2017, alleged the officers used their positions to take advantage of her. She has alleged she was unable to provide consent to the sexual contact due to her mental vulnerabilities, which the officers were aware of. 

Granneman was accused of facilitating one of the sexual relationships and not reporting knowledge of Inlow's on-duty activities to his supervisors.

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The complaint also brought a new accusation against Granneman. He and Inlow were accused of confiscating a weapon from the woman in November 2015 and not filing any reports. The next day, Granneman requested two other officers perform a wellness check on the woman before he transported her to a mental health facility where she would be committed under the Baker Act. Again, the complaint accuses Granneman of not documenting the incident.

The Daily News submitted a records request for the Baker Act incident report that allegedly did not exist but was denied by the city due to an active investigation. The city's denial did not indicate whether that meant there were any records responsive to the request.

More:Marco police cite records exemption for report that allegedly doesn't exist

Along with the prospective complaint, an attorney representing the woman sent the city a letter issuing a 21-day ultimatum to initiate settlement talks before litigation commences.

Inlow and Giansanti resigned from duty in early 2018 after internal affairs investigations into their conduct were begun. Ultimately, those investigations resulted in finding both had multiple sexual experiences with the woman.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement revoked Inlow's certification for the moral character violation, and Giansanti voluntarily relinquished his after probable cause for a hearing was found.

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Hennings remained on paid administrative leave from May to September 2018 until he was fired after his internal investigation yielded the same result. He is attempting to regain his job through the arbitration process.

Although a May 2018 internal investigation turned up text messages showing Granneman was informed by the woman of locations to avoid while she and Inlow carried on their affair, he received a written reprimand.

More:Investigation finds two former Marco Island cops separately engaged in sex while on duty

Granneman was promoted to sergeant in November 2018 and subsequently given a six-month probation period. But that period was extended in April 2019 after multiple issues with other officers emerged.

A performance evaluation revealed Granneman had sent text messages in April to another officer about shift issues and rumors. He was advised to conduct personnel matters at work. 

More:Attorney warns Marco police of prospective lawsuit alleging sexual abuse, trafficking

His evaluation also stated he had difficulty separating himself from being a patrolman and "the boss."

Granneman was informed of his demotion during a seven-minute meeting with Police Chief Tracy Frazzano on Sept. 30.

A memo Frazzano placed in Granneman's file indicated the conversation included his "deficiency in relation to following directives." to which Granneman responded he "did not follow the (expletive) ones."

Granneman began his career with the department on Nov. 25, 2013, according to payroll records.

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