Officer who was charged after standoff retires

PANAMA CITY BEACH -- A Panama City Beach police officer who was the subject of an armed stand-off has decided to retire.

Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of an armed, distraught and intoxicated man in the Panama City Beach subdivision of Palm Grove on July 16. A two-hour impasse followed involving SWAT team members and numerous other law enforcement officers before Sgt. Jeff Heath, a 19-year veteran of the PCBPD, surrendered and was taken into protective custody. Police have confirmed that Heath, 43, will not return to the force following the incident.

Chief Drew Whitman said Heath’s official retirement date will be Sept. 8.

During the stand-off, Heath discharged a round through his home and into a neighboring residence. He faces one count of discharging a firearm into a dwelling.

Heath had previous issues as an officer, according to employee records.

In May 2012, Heath, then a lieutenant, was fired after an internal investigation concluded he was insubordinate and disobeyed orders not to speak about a former female Panama City Beach officer who had accused him of groping her in 2007.

However, the city’s civil service board ruled Heath could return to the department but demoted him from lieutenant to sergeant and ordered he be suspended for 30 days without pay.