The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has reported the termination of Captain Zuleydis Stearns amidst a broader investigation into academic cheating within its ranks, an inquiry that has already triggered several high-profile resignations. According to WFLA, Stearns previously helmed the Communications Bureau and Records Division and, following the internal investigation that began this past summer after former Chief Deputy Anthony Collins admitted to obtaining illicit academic assistance while attending the National FBI Academy, has been discharged.
This unfolding academic scandal broadened when a tip, including allegations received from Collins' wife, exposed a network of officials apparently involved in hiring an individual to craft research papers and other reports on their behalf; Sheriff Chad Chronister has since been handling the scandal which overshadows the reputation of the entire Sheriff's office, even as Major James Jackson resigned earlier in October for reasons the Sheriff's Office claimed were "unrelated to any cheating on FBI coursework," as stated in the same article by WFLA.
In a detailed accusation that came to light, screenshotted correspondence between Collins and what Chronister identified as a "paper writer" captured exchanges such as "Here is the paper. It meets the guidelines and requirements without focusing too much on the personal." and these revelations led to Collins' resignation just four days after being put on administrative leave, according to FOX 13. Chronister was quoted recalling his conversation with Collins: "On a scale of zero to 10, zero means he completed none of your coursework, 10 meaning he did all of it.' He told me, 'At least a five.'"
The scandal now encompasses at least five high-ranking officials, including Col. Christopher Rule, Col. Michael Hannaford, and Capt. Lora Rivera, all of whom stepped down amid the intensifying scrutiny of the academic integrity of the office, while Stearns' firing represents the most recent fallout from this disturbing pattern of ethics breaches that seem to be systemic within the command structure of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, as the agency spokesperson indicated to Tampa Bay Times while remarking that Sheriff Chronister would withhold further commentary until the investigation reaches completion.
