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UPDATE: Deputy Returning After Internal Review On Conduct During ‘Auditor’ Incident
April 9, 2026
UPDATE: Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons has provided an update on this incident:
“One of our deputies had a few days ago with an individual standing on the side of the roadway, videoing the area. One of our deputies had an interaction with this individual, which led to a back and forth that did not reflect our core values of courtesy integrity and professionalism.
“The constitution allows for an individual to stand in a public place and also allows for someone to record or video what he or she could see or hear from this public vantage point. We train for this type of encounter, and our expectation is that our employees abide by our core values, regardless of the actions of others.
“While we may or may not agree with every individual’s motive, the protections guaranteed in the Constitution apply to everyone. After an internal review of our deputies actions, appropriate measures have been taken, and our deputy will be back to serve the citizens of Escambia County with courtesy, integrity and professionalism.”
PREVIOUS STORY:
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) has launched an internal investigation after a deputy’s conduct during a recent encounter failed to meet agency expectations.”
The incident involved an individual participating in a nationwide trend where “auditors” record video in public spaces to “test whether first amendment rights are respected.” While the ECSO noted that the individual in this case “appears to have desired a controversial interaction,” the agency emphasized that its staff is held to a stricter code of conduct.
The incident occurred last Friday afternoon on McLean Avenue near the Islamic Center of Northwest Florida.
In the bodycam video, the deputy and the unnamed man got involved in a profanity-laced verbal argument that last at least eight minutes while the man recorded on his phone. At one point, he circles the deputy. The entire bodycam video is available on the NorthEscambia.com Facebook page.
“The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is aware of a recent interaction involving one of our deputies that did not meet the standards we expect or the standards our community deserves,” the agency stated in a press release. “We expect a higher level of professionalism from our employees at all times.”
The ECSO confirmed that the deputy’s actions did not align with their core values of courtesy, integrity, and professionalism. As a result, the female deputy, who has not been named, has been “placed on an administrative assignment” while an “internal review is currently underway.”
ECSO officials stressed their commitment to accountability, stating that “appropriate action will be taken based on the findings” of the investigation.
There were no arrests.
Comments
24 Responses to “UPDATE: Deputy Returning After Internal Review On Conduct During ‘Auditor’ Incident”
He does have the right to record. But bro was enticing a reaction.
I’ve seen some 1st Amendment auditors that are nothing more than rage baiters, but I’ve also seen several officers that are nothing more than bullies with badges thinking that THEIR word is the law.
Society needs neither of these.
Hope my federal taxes aren’t supporting this trouble maker through some grant or ngo .
Waste of the LEO’s time. If that’s the worst thing……next
Deputy showed greater restraint than I would have. “He” is obviously mentally challenged. Should have been assisted to the ground. Placed in protective custody. And taken to a secure facility to get the care “he” so desperately needs.
Wow! I never thought that our deputies were that ignorant of the law. Was that man a jerk? Yes! Was his language inappropriate? Absolutely. But she is a police officer who enforces and upholds the law. Last time I checked, we still have the freedom of speech and the right to travel on public roads. If this officer can’t keep her “feelings” in check, she needs to find a different profession. Thank you Chip Simmons for holding our deputies to uphold the law. If the roles were reversed, would a civilian be arrested if they touched a deputy bc they were “upset”??? You better believe they would!! It is the uneducated/ignorant officers that give the good ones a bad wrap. Now our tax dollars will cover another lawsuit bc of her actions. For those saying the officer was in the right obviously don’t understand their rights or the law smh – this is why they say, “Rules for thee, not for me!”
As soon as the deputy determines there is no threat, her job is done. Law enforcement is provided arrest authority, given weapons and qualified immunity, they must be held to a higher standard. This is the trade off.
One more TikTok lawyer. taking advantage of the constitution not for the good of what represents but just ratings . Bet you he is from North east or North west . The Leo,s difficult situation , dealing in a neighborhood with a Mosque in a residential area and a tik tok lawyer not an easy task . After all the coverage we will see more incidents like this in the future in our area .
I would urge that “courageous” defender of the first amendment to go and video a biker bar and act as disrespectful as he did to the deputy. I’d pay good money to see that video and post bail for anybody but him that might get arrested as a result of his journalistic endeavor.
Needed someone there to Audit him.
And let the Officer go about important business.
These so called auditors are just WEAK people pushing the good around.
If they really want to make a difference in this world so full of fraud they should do some real work like Nick Shirely.. HE IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
He will meet up with the wrong person one day and wish the police could get to him sooner, to protect his 1st…………….
They can check existing recordings and see if this was only a provoked response or a pattern of behavior not complying with expectations.
Or we can judge and condemn one or the other without actually knowing.
After watching the video, the deputy didn’t do anything wrong and shouldn’t face any repercussions for this. This guy was an idiot who is just trying to start trouble to try to get a lawsuit. He was clearly the one escalating the situation. He’s free to record in a public setting but she told him specifically that if he stepped onto that private property that he would be breaking the law at that point. His 1st amendment rights weren’t violated at all and once he got too close for comfort to the deputy she was well within her right to push him away.
Hope nobody confuses the first amendment tester for a troublemaker . That would be a good video to watch !
Rage Baiters!
Don’t fall for their antics.
The man set out to get a rise out of someone and he succeeded in his endeavor. Officers are held at a higher standard, and while someone would say that he was egging the situation on, the officer should have known that that was his intention and not feed into it as this one did.
Verbal reprimand only. She’s human and this clown pushed her buttons. Lesson learned. I would have knocked him and his camera into next week.
Frauditors like this pretend they are just pretending to protect the first amendment. Really they are losers that don’t want to work a real job but instead want to make money from social media posts.
Real protection of the First is done by real journalists not some jerk annoying and video taping people with a phone.
That guy has a legal, 1st Amendment right to do it. Free speech and freedom of the press isnt there to protect the behaviors that society loves and agrees with, it’s there to protect the stuff that most people find disgusting
Also, if he has the legal right to do this, doesnt the Deputy also have the legal right to say and act the way she did?
Poor little boy can dish it out but cant take it.
Clearly, this guy provokes a situation, whether disruption or impeding law enforcement, just to get some footage that he can edit to show the officer or agent in the worst possible light. Surely there is something productive he could be doing with his time.
Watched the deputy’s camera video. Based on that video…
The ‘auditor’ escalated the situation, unnecessarily. The deputy, initially, handled it very well; however, she fell for the ‘auditor’s’ antagonizing and began bantering with him. At that point, she totally lost control of the situation. The agitating ‘auditor’ should have been arrested way early on.
Sheroff, she definitely needs some time with an FTO and some counseling; but, not necessarily serious disciplinary action.
As a note, I’ve seen videos by these supposed ‘auditors’ and their goal seems to be antagonizing for clicks. Don’t fall for it.
It’s a shame we’ve become such a depraved society, people feel the need to antagonize Law Enforcement Officers.
Maybe the Officer didn’t respond in the best way possible but, how many of us would put up with the antics of this person?
I’m sure there’s a lot more to this story and I hope the Officer gets fair treatment. I hope we can return to better manners and respect for others AND the Constitution.
Most importantly, if I’m at a religious gathering and there’s an Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy standing watch, I’ll be grateful if they take on the confrontation and antagonist so that it’s diverted away from me and my fellow worshippers. Hmm.
These videoed encounters are abundant on social media outlets. Agencies could easily hold training sessions with video examples of positive and troublesome encounters to emphasize citizen rights and LEO policy.
Sheriff Simmons should be ashamed of how he supports his officers.Simmons & his administration are spineless. This deputy was very professional in her dealings with this deranged subject. When the subject confronted her,in her face,and the verbal abuse & harassment was purely criminal, the subject was very loud and aggressive, causing a public disturbance.
I hope all the other officers of the ECSO,take note.