A Tampa Police Department volunteer Reserve Officer has been dismissed following an arrest on charges of child abuse, according to official reports. The officer, Ada Terman Paulino, was not on duty at the time of the incident.
Authorities were alerted on Saturday when a juvenile, accompanied by an adult, reported to have been assaulted by Terman Paulino three days prior. The minor claimed to have been struck multiple times in the face and choked to the point of struggling to breathe. Despite the time that had passed, visible indications of the altercation still marked her. The relationship between Terman Paulino and the victim has been noted to be personal. In response to the grievance, the Tampa Police swiftly moved to arrest and charge Terman Paulino with Child Abuse.
Following her arrest, the Tampa Police Department acted rapidly to terminate her position as a Reserve Officer. Terman Paulino had been a part of the department since 2022, offering her services voluntarily in addition to the force's full-time officers, typically assisting during emergency situations and special events to afford those on patrol continuous focus on their dedicated tasks. It was emphasized that the alleged abuse took place while she was off duty.
