MIAMI/FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - July 10, 2020 - According to an online news report published on WSVN.com, a Broward Sheriff's Office deputy was arrested for allegedly defrauded the Broward Sheriff's Office of over $15,000. The former deputy is accused of falsifying his overtime hours, and he allegedly lied about how many hours he worked. Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony stated the arrest of one of the department's detectives, a 35-year-old man, occurred on Thursday during a Broward Sheriff's Office conference outside of the department's headquarters near Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Broward Sheriff Tony claims the former detective is being accused of committing several criminal violations. He also stated that all of the employees working for the Broward Sheriff's Office work for the community, and stealing at the department is the same as stealing from the community. He also stated that the detective failed to do his job, and the deputy abused the trust the community put in him.
According to the Broward Sheriff's Office's Public Corruption Unit, the detective distorted overtime forms on seven separate occasions. The deputy lied over 50 times about serving a full-time shift, but personnel records revealed that the deputy defrauded Broward Sheriff's Office $15,000 or more in compensation.
The defendant's arrest report asserts the 35-year-old reported that he a full day, but the detective never entered Broward County. ON other occasions, the defendant only worked a portion of his shift in Broward County, and he returned to his house located in Miami-Dade County.
The defendant is facing criminal charges of official misconduct, obtaining property under $20,000 by fraud, and grand theft.
Broward Sheriff Tony said the Broward Sheriff's Office must be accountable and transparent. He continued by saying when the department finds situations that break the law, and the department must take action and not wait for the situation to appear on television. The 7News television cameras caught the defendant exiting the Broward County Jail in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday night when he posted a bail bond. According to the online news report, when the defendant was asked if he would like to provide a comment on his arrest or defend himself against the allegations, the defendant simply remained quiet and left in a car that was waiting for him.
As the Broward Sheriff's Office's Public Corruption Unit continue their investigation into the 35-year-old's fraud case, Broward Sheriff Tony promised the community that he would take swift action after any future wrongdoing within the Sheriff's department.
According to Broward Sheriff Tony, he and the department are not only going to suspend and terminate bad employees. The Broward Sheriff said that if there is wrongdoing at the department and there is enough probable cause, there would be arrests, especially in cases as "grotesque" in this case. He also stated that law enforcement needs to police themselves and that the BSO maintains this culture.
The defendant has been suspended without pay. He has been with the Broward Sheriff's Office since 2006.