A Jacksonville police officer is being charged with fraud and official misconduct after investigators said he bilked around $1,000 from companies that contracted him for security services
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office began surveilling officer Frank Holtsman after receiving a tip that he was being paid for work he did not do.
A tip came in April that Holtsman was being paid by the city and a third-party company at the same time.
Officers are allowed to take side jobs, as long as they’re reported and they don’t interfere with their official duties.
But during an 11-day period, Holtsman took multiple jobs working security for homeowner’s associations, which pay city fees in addition to paying the officer. Out of the 28 hours of secondary work Holtsman logged, JSO says he worked just 16.
JSO Undersheriff Pat Ivey said he’s recommending Holtsman be fired.
“There’s a $10,003 bond for each count. He will have the same privileges as any other citizen does in reference to the due process for the criminal piece. After that there is an administrative piece if he is indeed still employed by this agency,” he said. “But based on these charges, and they have to go through the process, I would indeed recommend termination.”
Holtsman also has a history of citizen complaints throughout his 14-year career. The more than 40 complaints range from false arrest to harassment.
JSO has arrested six of its own so far this year, and 11 last year.
Ryan Benk can be reached at rbenk@wjct.org, 904-358-6319 or on Twitter @RyanMichaelBenk
