Sanford police brief commission on probe into alleged off-duty-detail fraud by investigator
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Summary
Police Chief Smith briefed the commission on a criminal investigation into investigator Ronnie Neal, saying Neal has resigned and that forensic accounting, FDLE and Secret Service assistance are involved; the department has changed timekeeping and oversight practices to prevent recurrence.
Sanford Police Chief Smith told the commission the department has opened a criminal investigation into alleged fraud connected to off-duty details coordinated by investigator Ronnie Neal.
Chief Smith said the probe began after the finance department identified unpaid vendor accounts and missing invoices tied to off-duty details. "In November 2025 the finance department deadline was reached" and the discrepancies led the department to open a criminal investigation, the chief said. He added that between October 2023 and July 2024 Neal placed 79 details to be billed for work at a site on Reinhardt Road and that investigations had found invoices and payments that did not reconcile.
The chief said Neal was placed on administrative leave in December 2025 and later resigned. Based on the department nalysis, police filed 79 counts of official misconduct and one count of organized fraud; Chief Smith said additional charges may follow as forensic accounting and outside agencies assist the investigation.
Chief Smith described several immediate operational changes: assigning detail oversight to a sergeant and lieutenant, moving invoicing responsibility to the finance department, requiring officers to log on to the power-details system with GPS check-in/check-out, and tightening approval for timesheet adjustments. The chief said the department is also exploring outside vendors to manage details and reduce internal handling of invoicing and payments.
Commissioners acknowledged the allegations are under investigation and noted that the facts are allegations until proven in court. One commissioner asked whether the new measures require significant ongoing staff time; the chief said the changes are primarily process updates and that the city would automate invoicing and payments where possible.
Separately, city staff briefed the commission on a 2024 invoice dispute with Del Air Heating. Staff said the city accepted a Del Air quote for two AC units but the vendor later invoiced for double; staff negotiated an $11,000 settlement difference and characterized the issue as a training and process gap.
