JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A detective in the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office was arrested Thursday morning on charges of falsifying documents and official misconduct after his supervisor noticed that forms that document cash, narcotics or other property were falsified.
Six-year JSO veteran Bryan Burnett, a narcotics detective, was charged with two third-degree felonies.
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Ivey said at least two forms that document cash, narcotics or other property were falsified. Ivey the amount of money involved was under $200.
“This was an intentional falsification of documents, but not for additional gain,” Undersheriff Pat Ivey said. “There’s no evidence that he was stealing the money. Otherwise, the charge would be theft."
The falsification was noticed by Burnett’s immediate supervisor on May 29.
Burnett chose not to make a statement when he was taken into custody and he elected to go on leave without pay since this is one of the charges that allows the sheriff to order an immediate suspension.
After the criminal case works out, Burnett will face an administrative review within the JSO. His union contract gives officers multiple methods to appeal any employer-imposed sanctions imposed.
Ivey said that a civilian Civil Service Board hearing appeals by JSO employees has ruled 25-30% of the time that the discipline or termination was too severe. He said the board has never found the discipline too lenient.
Ivey said Burnett is the 49th JSO employee arrested -- the 25th police officer -- in the five years that Sheriff Mike Williams has led the department. Ivey said that’s just over 1% of the department’s staff of 3,200. He said those people “who don’t need to wear a badge” or be working as a civilian for the Sheriff’s Office.