Records, fellow officer showed she accessed the department's camera system without authorization
A Kissimmee Police officer, who had just been promoted to Lieutenant in December, has been arrested and charged with two crimes related to her access of the department's camera system.
Lacey Santone turned herself to the Osceola County Jail Thursday, and jail records show she's already bonded. She has been relieved of her duties and placed on administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of the criminal case and an administrative investigation, the city said.
Santone was the subject of an October internal investigation in October, when the KPD Internal Affairs unit received an email from an individual who only by a screen name stating Santone, then a Sergeant, stating she, "Unprofessionally and possibly illegally under [Florida State Statute] accessed the building video system" in order to show then Deputy Chief Wilson Munoz walking out of building when the department let him go, and showed the video to employees she supervised.
When an internal affairs officer responded to the email to ask for a sworn statement or further information to go on with investigation, no response was heard, according to the report, and Police Chief Charles Broadway authorized an administrative investigation. Through a "Short Form Discipline Resolution process", Internal Affairs determined Santone did violate the general order regarding unauthorized use of city equipment. on Oct. 28.
Santone was promoted to Lieutenant at the Dec. 5 City Commission meeting. On Dec. 12, the department reported it initiated a criminal investigation after an officer came forward with additional information in the case. The Department initiated a criminal investigation, which found Santone accessed the Kissimmee Police Department's internal camera system, both on and off duty, multiple times for personal reasons, the city said. While viewing the security system footage, Santone used her personal cell phone to record the video and shared it with two officers, neither of whom had access to the secured system.
“The actions of the officer who came forward and those who cooperated in the investigation demonstrated our department’s core values and underscore the integrity and professionalism we expect, including holding each other accountable to maintain public trust,” Broadway said.
An arrest warrant was issued this week after the State Attorney’s Office, working with KPD, determined probable cause existed, and Santone voluntarily surrendered Thursday.
The News-Gazette will work to get further details into this case and bring them to you as they surface.
