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The sheriff’s office reported that the arrests followed an investigation lasting over a month, revealing the deputies were working additional jobs during their scheduled hours with NCSO.
NASSAU COUNTY, FLORIDA — According to a news statement from Nassau County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO), three deputies were taken into custody Thursday amid an investigation extending more than a month into alleged “double dipping.”
Deputy Henry Holmberg, Sgt. Brian Blackwell, and Sgt. Wilfred Quick turned themselves in at the Nassau County Jail on Thursday, facing charges of felony and misdemeanor theft, along with felony official misconduct. Arrest warrants were also issued the same day for two more NCSO Sergeants involved in the activity.
NCSO investigators said they received an internal tip that certain employees in the sheriff’s office were violating state law and NCSO policy by receiving pay from the sheriff’s office while also working an off-duty job, which launched a criminal investigation.
Investigators said five agency employees were found submitting time sheets for payment that covered time they were also working a secondary job.
NCSO said their deputies are allowed to work a second job while off-duty, commonly known as “moonlighting,” but they are not allowed to “double dip,” working a second job while still on-duty and on the clock with NCSO.
All five deputies have been fired, NCSO’s statement said.
A sixth deputy was found to be illegally submitting time sheets for time he was on light duty from an injury, submitting time sheets for full days while going home early from his shift without telling his supervisor.
The deputy accepted a pre-trial diversion disposition to avoid arrest, and was also fired from NCSO.
NCSO said the total amount of money stolen from the department and county taxpayers was $14,007.
“While I sincerely appreciate the years of service of each of these employees and the sacrifices each has made while protecting and serving our community, especially as the law enforcement profession becomes increasingly difficult and dangerous, I am deeply disappointed in the actions of these former employees,” Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said.
The sheriff went on to say he’s changed the office’s policy and procedures to include auditing every agency employee who holds a second job.
