A Lakeland, Florida, police officer resigned after being arrested in an off-duty timecard fraud case involving more than 50 alleged discrepancies between his time slips and electronic location records.
The officer was identified as Miguel Acevedo, 44, according to Tampa Free Press.
Acevedo was booked into the Polk County Jail on Tuesday and charged with third-degree felony grand theft and scheming to defraud.
The Lakeland Police Department said the case began with an internal investigation that found discrepancies between Acevedo’s off-duty detail time slips and electronic location records.
The charges are allegations. Acevedo resigned after being processed, but the department said the arrest will still be subject to an administrative review.
Electronic Records Raised Questions About Off-Duty Details
Chief Sam Taylor ordered a criminal investigation after internal reviews flagged discrepancies in Acevedo’s location data.
Investigators said the records showed a pattern of Acevedo representing that he was present and working assigned details when electronic records placed him elsewhere.
Authorities identified 54 incidents between July 7, 2022, and May 26, 2026, in which Acevedo allegedly clocked in or out of assigned details while outside the authorized geographic boundaries of the worksite.
The Alleged Improper Pay Was $1,046.50
The department said the attendance discrepancies and location irregularities resulted in approximately $1,046.50 in compensation being paid to Acevedo.
The public reports did not identify the specific off-duty worksites, the electronic tracking method used, or whether any outside businesses or organizations were tied to the detail assignments.
Acevedo had been placed on administrative leave at the start of the investigation.
WFTS reported that Acevedo earned an annual salary of $90,451 before resigning from the department.
The Chief Said Public Trust Was at Stake
After the arrest, Chief Taylor said officers are expected to serve with integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
He said maintaining public trust requires every member of the department to meet high standards of conduct on and off duty, and that the department has a responsibility to hold officers accountable when those standards are not met.
The case now moves through the criminal process on the grand theft and scheming to defraud charges.
Payroll Fraud Can Start With Small Time Records
For public agencies, contractors, and businesses that pay off-duty, overtime, or field assignments, useful checks include comparing time slips with dispatch logs, GPS records, badge access, assignment boundaries, supervisor approvals, invoices, and worksite sign-in records.
Repeated discrepancies can point to a larger control problem, especially when one person can submit, approve, or verify time with little outside review.
Suspected payroll fraud, timecard falsification, or misuse of public funds should be reported through the employer’s internal reporting process, local law enforcement, or the appropriate inspector general or ethics office.