Reported by Jason Wheeler
BUNNELL -- A decorated police officer rising quickly among the ranks in one Flagler County city has resigned.
Cpl. Nick Massaro was issued a Certificate of Commendation for his work on solving an attempted murder case just before Christmas in 2009.
A few weeks later, an investigation began on his conduct.
"He posted on Craigslist a sexually explicit ad. Basically is what he has done," said Chief Arthur Jones from the Bunnell Police Department.
However, it went beyond that.
That ad featured a friend of Massaro's wife, who had no idea he had done it.
To top it all off, he apparently used a department computer to set it up.
News 13 spoke with Massaro Friday who declined an on-camera interview. But he said what he did was stupid, and was a joke that went too far. He added his concern now is for his family.
Jones has a similar concern for his law enforcement family.
"We must get up with this uniform and as we put it on, remind ourselves that we are held to these standards and these standards must be exemplified in our daily tasks," Jones said.
Jones and his officers are keenly aware of the spotty reputation the police force has had in this community in the past.
It's a reputation he's trying to change.
What really hurts Jones is that Massaro was one of the good ones out on the street.
"He's a four-year veteran here,” Jones said. “He's one of my good cops and it comes as a really regretful moment for me. He performs. He has been trained. He is a very good police officer."
But he has learned there are certain things not even a good police officer can do and get away with it.
Massaro was the department's Officer of the Year in 2007.
He was also named Flagler County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by Crime Stoppers that same year.
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