A Putnam County Corrections deputy was arrested for soliciting prostitution on Tuesday, authorities said.
Patrick Dean spoke with undercover detectives - who he thought were women - about exchanging sexual acts for money or medication, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said.
On Tuesday, Dean drove to a local convenience store to meet up with one of the detectives with the intent to pay $75 for sex, the report said. He was arrested and booked into Putnam County jail and was eventually released on bond.
“All allegations of crime are taken seriously in Putnam County and this is especially true when the allegation involves a Deputy Sheriff. To make a difference in our community, we must earn the public trust and Dean’s incomprehensible actions do nothing but erode that trust," Sheriff Gator DeLoach said in a statement.
"I look forward to the speedy completion of the required internal investigation. If these allegations are sustained, I look forward to ridding the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office of this individual that does not deserve to wear our star.”
Detectives said an internal investigation is ongoing, as the department looks to determine how heavily involved Dean was in prostitution. Deputies said there is no evidence to suggest Dean committed unlawful acts while on duty.
Dean has been placed on administrative leave and was stripped of his badge. His status as an employee of PCSO will be determined upon the completion of the investigation.
Dean has worked for PCSO on-and-off since 1990. He was reprimanded in 2003 for having a relationship with a former inmate. In 2016, Dean was suspended without pay for failing to provide medication to an inmate in a timely manner.
He has been the subject of five internal investigations overall.