A Sumter County Sheriff’s Office detective has been arrested and terminated after investigators say she improperly accessed multiple law enforcement databases for personal reasons.
In a statement released Thursday, sheriff’s officials said an internal audit found “improper and unlawful” use of agency database systems to monitor an individual. The audit identified irregular activity tied to Detective Brandy Almany, who has been employed with the agency since 2019, the release said.
According to the sheriff’s office, a criminal investigation was opened the same day. Investigators allege Almany circumvented procedures and accessed databases including:
- CCIS (Comprehensive Case Information System)
- Flock Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR)
- DAVID (Driver and Vehicle Information Database)
Investigators said the information was sought in connection with the ex-wife of Almany’s husband, and that the searches were not tied to legitimate investigative work.
Officials also alleged Almany created electronic records that falsely indicated the searches were connected to valid sheriff’s office investigations, using unrelated case numbers and false justifications.
Almany was interviewed and “immediately suspended from duty,” the release said. The case was then presented to the Office of the State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit for review.
[Watch the Sumter County sheriff’s full statement below]
After that review, the sheriff’s office said an arrest warrant was issued on Thursday, charging Almany with:
- Official misconduct (F.S. § 838.022(1)(a))
- Offenses against computer users (F.S. § 815.06), including allegations she exceeded authorized access to:
- sheriff’s office computer systems and software
- the DAVID database
- the CCIS database
Sheriff Patrick Breeden said that, upon Almany’s arrest, she was notified of her pending termination per procedure. The agency said it is awaiting additional audit results from the various databases, which could lead to more charges.
In the statement, the sheriff described the arrest as a step toward “accountability and transparency,” and said he would not tolerate conduct that does not meet the agency’s standards.
The sheriff’s office also said it has ordered a complete internal audit of all database activity, and has suspended the use of Flock in response to the case.