Our Classmate, Ms. DeMario

Here's something about Ms. DeMario from the Post:

Sheriff's polygrapher winked for boss' daughter

By Bill Douthat, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 7, 2002

A sheriff's polygrapher who gave a lie detector test to the daughter of his boss failed to properly report her deceptive answers about past drug use, an investigation has concluded.

Reviews of the polygraph chart of Lori DeMario "clearly indicate deception," an internal affairs report says.

DeMario, who took the test as part of her application for a sheriff's office job, is the daughter of Frank DeMario, who was internal affairs commander in January 2000 when the test was administered by Harold Sorensen, a deputy who worked under DeMario.

After doing the polygraph, Sorensen noted there was "no significant information nor any consistent deceptive responses," the internal affairs report says.

But two re-readings of the polygraph chart by veteran polygraphers shows deception on two questions of past drug use, said investigator Sgt. Steven Thibodeau.

"The professionals said it was blatant, that it just jumped out on the pages," Thibodeau said.

The investigation, released this week, found Sorensen committed official misconduct and violated the sheriff's code of ethics for overlooking Lori DeMario's deceptive answers. Because Sorensen, 56, retired last July, he's not subject to any discipline.

Sorensen has done nothing wrong, said his attorney, Michael Salnick. "I've never seen a police officer so badly slandered in a IA (internal affairs report) than this one," Salnick said. "This is a good guy who, for some reason, is being victimized."

Lori DeMario, 30, who was hired as a drill instructor at the sheriff's Eagle Academy for troubled teens, was not cited for any wrongdoing.

The Internal Affairs report noted that Frank DeMario recommended in September 2000 that Sorensen attend a three-month school at Fort Jackson, S.C. The training, which was not required for Sorensen's position, cost the sheriff's office $12,169, the report said.

In November 2000, a month before he left the sheriff's office, DeMario recommended a one-time special merit increase in pay for Sorensen, adding $153 a month to his salary.

In a memo to his superiors, DeMario said: "Investigator Sorensen is a dedicated employee who has been with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office since 1982. He is a team player and a benefit to the agency."

A one-time merit increase is considered a "bonus" at the sheriff's office, Thibodeau said.

Frank DeMario and Sorensen declined to speak to internal affairs investigators during the investigation, Thibodeau said.

Sorensen did respond in an memo sent in August through his attorney. Sorensen said he told his immediate supervisor, Mark James, of "possible problems" involving drug admissions by Lori DeMario but said she appeared to be telling the truth.

According to the review of the polygraph chart, the two questions that brought deceptive responses from her were:

Did you ever illegally use drugs, including marijuana?

Have you illegally used drugs, including marijuana in the past two years?

Sorensen said he asked Lori DeMario about signs of deceptions but he later concluded her admission about using GHB years before could explain the polygraph results. She said she had used gamma hydroxybutyrate before 1990, when its use was banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

She wrote on a pre-polygraph questionnaire that she had used marijuana "as a juvenile."

On her employment application, she initially denied using marijuana but amended the application after her polygraph, saying she misunderstood the question. The application now reads that she had used marijuana, but did not say how long ago.

Questions quickly arose about her father's role in her hiring. An inquiry while Bob Neumann was still sheriff found no evidence that her father or anyone else did anything wrong.

The questions arose again last April when Christopher Neiswender told sheriff's investigators that Lori DeMario had used several drugs and bragged about lying on the polygraph.

The timing of Neiswender's allegations were suspect. He and DeMario were divorcing after a 10-year marriage. He told investigators he was coming forth because he was tired of his wife "getting away with everything" due to her father's political influence. Frank DeMario chaired the county Republican Party while he worked at the sheriff's office.

A polygraph test showed Neiswender to be deceptive about allegations he was making against his wife.

Meanwhile, Sorensen is recovering from the health problems that prompted his retirement and wants to return to his 30-year career as a polygrapher, Salnick said.

Lori DeMario remains employed at Eagle Academy as a deputy, earning $35,500 a year.

Frank DeMario will soon return to the sheriff's office as a detective, due to the settlement of a lawsuit brought by him and four other employees fired by Sheriff Ed Bieluch after he defeated Neumann in the 2000 election.

The settlement protects the returning employees from any investigation or discipline for conduct during their previous years with the sheriff's office.

© 2002, The Palm Beach Post.