Date of Offense
Offense(s)
Official Statement
An internal investigation by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office uncovered allegations that four senior officers—Chief Deputy Anthony Collins, Colonel Michael Hannaford, Colonel Chris Rule, and Captain Lora Rivera—had others complete required academic or professional coursework on their behalf. The inquiry began when Collins’ wife provided evidence suggesting that a contractor, Robert Roush, wrote papers and assignments for Collins and possibly additional command staff. Subsequent reviews revealed a broader pattern of misconduct involving falsified or misrepresented academic work associated with professional advancement. As a result, all four officers separated from the agency, and the Sheriff publicly described their actions as serious violations of integrity and professional ethics that undermined the credibility and standards expected of law enforcement leadership.
