BOCA RATON — A police officer involved in a fatal shooting last month has received multiple letters of commendation and largely favorable performance reviews since joining Boca Raton’s force in 2019, according to city personnel records.
Officer Michael Super was placed on critical-incident leave after investigators said he shot and killed 39-year-old Morey Clemmons on Dec. 18 during an encounter downtown. Boca Raton police have released few details about the encounter and have not disclosed what prompted Super to discharge his weapon.
The city’s human resources department did not immediately respond to an inquiry Tuesday regarding whether Super remains on leave.
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The shooting occurred at Northwest Second Avenue and Northwest Second Street, north of City Hall and near the Boca Raton Community Center.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating at the request of Boca Raton police. The agency said its investigation will be limited to Super’s use of force. It did not provide additional information, saying the investigation remains open.
The Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office will determine whether the officer’s actions were legally justified. An office spokesperson said the office will release a final report once its review is complete.
Officer had no prior use of force incidents since joining Boca Raton police
Personnel records provided by the city did not show any previous use of force incidents for Super. Records show he did receive a written warning in October 2023 for his involvement in a traffic crash.
Investigators determined the crash was avoidable after an internal review found that Super sideswiped another vehicle with his marked patrol car as he crossed lanes of traffic and attempted to turn and enter a plaza.
Super, a 2016 Florida Atlantic University graduate, joined Boca Raton’s police department after working for two years as Cape Coral police officer in Lee County. His personnel file shows that he received commendations for his efforts to save a choking victim and his work finding a runaway teen, among others.
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Police officials have not disclosed how Super and Clemmons came to encounter each other on the day of the shooting.
A relative for Clemmons told WPTV NewsChannel 5 that Clemmons had struggled with homelessness in recent years. An online fundraiser said Clemmons was skilled in detailing and hoped to one day have his own company.
“Morey was a proud father, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and son,” a message on the fundraising page said. “The warmth he brought to cold situations was purely a gift and will never be forgotten. To say he is a hard worker is an understatement, he went all out for his kids and had the ability to learn and excel in anything he embarked on.”
Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boca Raton officer in fatal shooting had no prior use-of-force cases