SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. — The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office has suspended the use of Flock Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras following the arrest and termination of a detective accused of accessing restricted law enforcement databases for personal reasons. Sheriff Patrick Breeden announced that Detective Brandy Almany was arrested after an internal audit revealed she improperly accessed systems to gather information about her husband’s ex-wife, unrelated to any official police work.
Internal Audit Uncovers Unauthorized Access
The investigation began on July 23 when the agency identified irregular activity within several restricted databases. According to Sheriff Breeden, Almany bypassed established procedures to access the Comprehensive Case Information System (CCIS), the Florida Driver and Vehicle Information Database (DAVID), and the Flock ALPR system. Investigators allege that these searches were conducted solely for personal purposes.
Almany, who has been employed with the agency since 2019, is accused of using unrelated case numbers and fabricating investigative justifications to make her database activity appear legitimate. After being interviewed regarding the suspicious activity, she was immediately suspended while the investigation was presented to the Office of the State Attorney for Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit.
Criminal Charges and Department-Wide Audit
An arrest warrant has been issued charging Almany with one count of official misconduct and three counts of offenses against computer users. The charges state that she knowingly exceeded her authorized access to sheriff’s office computer systems, the DAVID database, and the CCIS database to obtain confidential information.
In response to these allegations, Sheriff Breeden announced a department-wide audit while suspending the agency's use of Flock cameras. This suspension is intended to ensure that all data usage complies with legal standards before operations resume fully. The sheriff described the arrest as one of the most difficult actions taken during his tenure.
Community Reaction and Accountability
Sheriff Breeden emphasized transparency in a public statement, noting, "As your Sheriff, I’ve promised accountability and transparency. Today, I had to arrest one of my own for misuse of multiple law enforcement databases." The decision to publicly address the misconduct rather than handle it quietly has drawn praise from community members.
Public comments on the announcement highlighted support for the sheriff's leadership. Many residents viewed the swift action as evidence that accountability measures are functioning correctly within the department. Critics and supporters alike noted that law enforcement officers must be held to high professional standards, with no special allowances made for misuse of authority regardless of badge status.
