LAKELAND, Florida - A private investigator hired by the city found that when Lakeland police Lt. Ralph Schrader stalked his estranged wife in 2008 he violated four of the department's general orders, The Ledger newspaper reported last week.
Police Department officials were to have a predisciplinary hearing at 8 this morning at the Polk County Jail to give Schrader a chance to present evidence in his defense. But Schrader resigned.
Schrader, 45, was found guilty of stalking his now-ex-wife, Lisa Schrader, by a County Court jury Jan. 29. But Polk County Judge Beth Harlan withheld adjudication, a formal finding of guilt, despite the urging of prosecutors.
"He should not be a law enforcement officer anymore," Assistant State Attorney Hope Pattey said during sentencing on the misdemeanor charge.
Schrader was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 11 months of probation. He is held at the Polk County Jail in isolation and is scheduled to be released Monday, five days early because of the state's gain-time statute for good behavior.
In the internal case, Donald "Craig" Harper, a former Orlando police investigator hired by the city, found that Schrader violated the department's general orders, which included:
Unlawful conduct, based on his criminal conviction for stalking.Conduct Unbecoming, based on his conviction, which brought the department into disrepute.
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