An Orlando police officer was recently fired from the force after investigators said they found he lied about previous drug use when he was being interviewed two years ago.
Officer Joseph Ingoglia had been given, and passed, two polygraph tests and nothing of concern came up during his background check, an Orlando Police Department internal investigation report said.
When Ingoglia’s brother died of an overdose in April, though, investigators in New York found a text message that gave them a reason to suspect the officer had a more extensive history of drug use.
In the text, which addressed Ingoglia’s brother’s drug use, he said to “stay strong. I promise, you can do it if I did it.”
The New York Police Department then found medical records that show Ingoglia had been found unconscious at his father’s home in 2013 with opiates and cocaine in his system.
When asked about the text message, Ingoglia said he was just trying to give his brother encouragement.
Ingoglia said he stood by the statements he made during the application process and is fighting his termination.
Neither the Orlando Police Department nor officials with the union representing Ingoglia would comment on the termination.
Cox Media Group
