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Sheriff: Officer Gave Up 19-Year Career for $200

138 Comments

Lakeland Police Officer Troy Young.

Shakespeare took a lump-sum payout of about $17 million after winning the lottery in 2007.

Moore has told The Ledger she helped Shakespeare disappear at his request. She said he was trying to get away from people who were constantly pestering him for money.

Young isn’t the only one negatively impacted by his arrest, Judd said. “It’s one more chip of wood on the stack for DeeDee Moore.”

There are two emotional events that police departments have to endure, Chief Boatner said.

“Lakeland police in the last 10 days have been involved with both of them: the death of a police officer and the arrest of a police officer.”

Officer Charlie Dallas died Jan. 18 in a car accident.

He said Young’s actions will be debated by the police department, by people and in court.

As those conversations unfold, Boatner said, “We have 225 sworn officers who do good work every day. I hope people don’t forget that.”

Young, who has been with LPD since 1990, was suspended with pay Jan. 8 when Lakeland Police supervisors learned he was under investigation by the Sheriff’s Department.

In nearly 20 years with the department, Young, whose salary is $57,990 per year, had never been suspended.

He had been warned or had received counseling for personnel issues on five occasions, his file shows. Three of those five times were for vehicle operation.

Young has earned 16 awards and commendations during that same time.

[ Ledger reporter Jeremy Maready contributed to this report. Rick Rousos can be reached at rick.rousos@theledger.com or 863-802-7514.]LAKELAND | A Lakeland police officer was accused Monday of checking license plate numbers for a woman connected to missing Lotto millionaire Abraham Shakespeare.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested Troy McKay Young, 42, on charges of unlawful compensation, which is a felony, and misuse of confidential information, a misdemeanor.

“For a check of $200 and a plane ticket for his daughter, he gave up a 19-year career with the Lakeland Police Department,” Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said Monday.

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-110

rrosaslawenforcement

over 3 years ago

46 Comments

mILKSHOOTER IF YOU KNEW THIS INFORMATION WHY DIDNT YOU SPEAK UP AND BREAK THE CODE OF SILENCE? YOU SAY HES A GOOD GUY AND YET YOU SAY THAT HE GETS THE PERSON TO PAY HIM? WHICH ONE IS IT? HONESTLY, OFFICERS NEED TO SPEAK UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT BECAUSE IF PEOPLE FIND OUT YOU KNEW ABOUT SUCH MATTERS GOING ON YOU COULD BE HELD JUST AS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT EVER HAPPENS. I JUST DONT THINK IT IS RIGHT TO HIRE PEOPLE LIKE THIS. THERE HAS TO BE A WAY MADE WHERE OFFICERS CAN SPEAK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON AMONG OFFICERS THAT THEY KNOW IS WRONG AND NOT FEEL AS IF THEY WILL BE JUDGED FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING.
Deltaman01

over 3 years ago

330 Comments

sad to see, but something tells me that this happens all the time all around the U.S. (corruption at least)
TSPIKES

over 3 years ago

40 Comments

If this is true things will get worse before its over. Officers like this is the reason some people in our communities have trust issues.
milkshooter411

over 3 years ago

8 Comments

I knew him, and yes, him and moore were friends outside of work. As it was mentioned in the article, it was for other things, like witnessing opening a safe deposit box. I am quite upset to see this...he was a good man...I have know of a few more then the 5 infractions they spoke of, but lets not tarnish his good name till we here the rest of the details....I have always thought he lived WAY beyond his means...but you never know who is helping somebody these days....He HAS done this kind of stuff before...I have know of him not giving tickets to friends and getting fellow officers to drop or rip up tickets for money....(he gets the person to pay him, and then he talks to the citation officer and gets them to drop it as a courtesy to him)! I was there for 5 years in Lakeland. Polk County, Florida is one of the most corrupt places I have ever been, that is why I am not there anymore!!!! Good Luck Young!
357magnum

over 3 years ago

406 Comments

Something smells bad!! Would like to know more. When a person compromises it is like a man soliciting a prostitute and negotiating the price. The lady of the night argues with the man saying "What do you think I am, some cheap whore?" The reply, "Your character has been determined. Now we are just negotiating the price."
Ahi

over 3 years ago

1990 Comments

Unfortunate to hear.
lawdog71

over 3 years ago

8 Comments

I know one agency does not regularly disclose the inner workings of an investigation to another agency, but in a high profile case of a millinaire going missing and Moore a person of interest, Officer Young should have known to keep people like this at a very long distance. Perhaps he and Moore are friends prior to this incident . The article does not say what exactly their relationship was.. The bottom line...Young's ' INTEGRITY and JUDGEMENT were lacking. A 19 year vet should have known better, Rookies out there, a good lesson to be learned. Be Safe All.
Ibrahimaq

over 3 years ago

8 Comments

False. The title is a misnomer. The content speaks nothing about a police officer giving up a 19-year career for $200 - of course police officers don't do that. It talks about a police officer leaking confidential information and hoping to get away with it. Now that is downright unprofessional of Troy Young. The force must be cleaned of such.
rick1810

over 3 years ago

2 Comments

Shakespeare: "something is rotton in the state ( Lakeland) of Denmark."
wb4gad

over 3 years ago

28 Comments

I too think there's more going on here! I hope anyway! not that it would be ok for ANY reason
but it just doesn't make sense that this officer would throw away a 'career' (esp. in this economy!)
for $200.00 and a plane ticket... maybe he was financially strapped, and didn't want
his daughter (the plane ticket?) to know it.? we all make bad choices from time to time,
but law enforcement officers are proud of their contribution to the community, and enjoy their respect. Why would he jeopardize his position in the community? It has to be something to do with this
woman ...was there more to their relationship?
iHenry

over 3 years ago

276 Comments

It's sad. I think there is more going on here. I wonder if he and the woman are friends or what. Can't believe someone could throw away a career over $200.00 dollars.
I'm thinking it was more of a personal favor, which doesn't make it any better, but I want to hear more before I start name calling.
jdynomit

over 3 years ago

212 Comments

Wow, how can u justify this? not worth it. you cant feel bad for someone throwing it all away! I hope that money can replace your retirement... Stupid
Earnestine

over 3 years ago

44 Comments

:( i'm at a lost for words except.............there is something else going on here besides a two hundred dollar check and plane ticket..........
mjones0089

over 3 years ago

408 Comments

WOW
Anonymous

over 3 years ago

hope it was worth it.