Longboat Key Police Officer Fired Over Deadly Crash

LONGBOAT KEY, FL — After being cleared of fault in the investigation into a Dec. 18 crash that claimed the lives of a 91-year-old man and his 83-year-old wife, a Longboat Key police officer has been fired from the department based on the findings of a separate internal investigation.

"The internal investigation revealed evidence of officer misconduct involving excessive speed and in-car video recording equipment policies," agency spokesperson Tina Adams said Friday.

Adams told Patch the in-car camera system must remain active while officers respond to an emergency.

Officer Jeffrey Vogt was cleared last month in a two-month crash investigation conducted by the Sarasota Police Department. See Longboat Key Officer Not At Fault In Crash That Killed Couple

Vogt was traveling south in the 2100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive when his marked patrol car collided with the couple's Tesla near the En Province Condominiums.

The Sarasota police investigation concluded that "Vogt applied his brakes and attempted to steer his patrol car to avoid the crash," according to Genevieve Judge of the Sarasota Police Department. The crash occurred shortly before 6 p.m.

Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming ordered a separate internal investigation into possible departmental violations on Feb. 5.

"The town and police department takes these types of policy violations seriously, and adherence to emergency response policies and supervision of officers will continue to be a priority moving forward," Adams said.

Sarasota police investigate all serious crashes in Longboat Key under a memorandum of understanding between the two communities.

Charles Barancik of Longboat Key was pronounced dead on the scene of the crash and his wife Margery died the next day at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. The officer was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released.

Vogt had activated his emergency lights but not his siren as he drove to a report of a fire. He was traveling about 55 mph when he struck the couple's blue Tesla on the two-lane highway, according to the crash findings. The officer told investigators the last thing he remembered was the couple pulling out in front of him.

The crash investigation determined the view of both drivers had been obstructed by construction equipment on the north side of the intersection prior to the crash.

Vogt was terminated as of Thursday. He was placed on administrative leave immediate following the crash through the date of his termination, Adams said.