OAKLAND, Fla. — 9 Investigates has learned that a Mount Dora police officer was allowed to resign after the police chief signed off on an investigation that determined he was stealing time. That officer is now working for the Oakland Police Department in west Orange County, where he was recently promoted to sergeant.
9 Investigates has been digging into this story and tracking down the chiefs of both agencies to find out how it happened. Hours after going straight to the Oakland police chief for answers, Sgt. Barry Strykowski was suspended and is now under investigation to determine if he was untruthful during the hiring process.
Strykowski was hired in Oakland just two days after city records show the Mount Dora chief agreed to a deal that allowed him to quietly resign with no discipline on his record.
Mount Dora Police Chief Mike Gibson says Strykowski used his department-issued car to steal time from taxpayers by claiming to be on duty as an officer or extra-duty details.
Records from police headquarters show this went on for at least five months between October 2023 and March 2024, allowing Strykowski to be compensated for two different commitments simultaneously, according to internal affairs investigators.
When asked why he wasn’t fired, Gibson replied, “Well, the Mount Dora Police Department has a process called DRP, dispute resolution process.”
The chief explained that this is a practice in Mount Dora policy that allows the agency to negotiate discipline and/or an exit strategy.
In this case, the separation agreement shows the city paid Strykowski a total of more about $12,418 in accrued vacation time and sick leave, and allowed him to walk away with no discipline on his record, despite a 22-page investigation that determined he had, in fact, misrepresented his time and attendance.
A GPS log showed his patrol car at Disney, Saint Cloud, and as far away as Daytona Beach and Jacksonville on more than one occasion - believed to be visiting a woman - all while his time sheet showed him as being on duty. It’s a violation of department policy to travel that far outside of the agency’s jurisdiction for personal reasons.
Jones questioned why the amount Dora Chief didn’t refer the case to FDLE or the State Attorney for review of whether a crime occurred.
As to why Gibson did not refer the case to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or state attorney for review, he said, “Police officers use discretion every day, right? We use discretion every day. In this case, you’re correct, it could fall under the statute as a crime, or it does fall under this statute as a crime, but we’re the victim, so we’re allowed to say, ‘OK, we’ll forgo that’ At the end of the day, the chief of police, me, I’m responsible for the decisions that are made, and I have to take a lot of things into consideration. I have to consider the benefit to the city, the citizens here,”
9 Investigates went to Oakland to find out what the chief there knew, and when. Oakland’s police chief, Darran Esan, would not speak on camera, but said behind closed doors that he didn’t know about it at the time and provided an emailed statement about five hours later that said:
“On today’s date, the Oakland Police Department received information which alleged the application for employment received from Barry Strykowski excluded information which may have disqualified him from being hired by the department. Barry Strykowski was previously employed by the Mount Dora Police Department up to his swearing-in at Oakland. Barry Strykowski was immediately suspended pending an internal investigation into the validity of the allegations. The active internal investigation makes further comments improper until the final disposition is determined.”
Esan showed a Florida Department of Law Enforcement profile sheet, which we had already obtained, and the state’s records show Strykowski voluntarily separated from Mount Dora under circumstances not involving misconduct.
When we followed up with additional questions about the Mount Dora investigation, Esan replied, in part, “They sent back a link to his personnel file which was in excess of 900 pages. The 22 page investigation is not found in that file.”
Strykowski was required to relinquish his vehicle and other equipment, pending the outcome of the investigation.
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