UPDATED: 01/30/17 - Deputy Under Investigation Following Allegations Of Ttaking Money From Criminal Defendants

Date Added: January 27, 2017 1:30 pm

Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

Update: 01/30/17 - 6:00 p.m.

Deputy John Braman, who is under investigation following allegations that he took money from defendants he had arrested for DUI, resigned on Monday from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (see attached letter). The resignation is effective immediately. Please direct any questions regarding the criminal investigation to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

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DEPUTY UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR TAKING MONEY FROM DEFENDANTS

A Volusia County Sheriff’s deputy is under investigation after allegations recently surfaced of him taking money from criminal defendants. The information has been forwarded to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is conducting a criminal investigation in conjunction with the State Attorney’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office also is conducting an administrative investigation.

Multiple allegations have been received about Deputy John Braman taking money from defendants during DUI arrests. Deputy Braman was placed on administrative leave with pay on Wednesday. Braman, 33, was hired by the Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 1, 2007. Braman was assigned to road patrol prior to him being placed on leave. Before that, he worked as a motorcycle deputy in the Sheriff’s Office’s traffic unit.

Saying he was very disappointed to make the announcement about the investigation, Sheriff Mike Chitwood added: “Integrity is the cornerstone of any law enforcement officer’s career. Once you lose your integrity, you’ve lost your ability to be an effective law enforcement officer.” Sheriff Chitwood’s full statement can be viewed by clicking on the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwC2sak1ioE&feature=youtu.be

Due to the active investigations, no further comments or information is being released at this time.