TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Two colonels at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office have resigned amid an internal investigation into academic cheating allegations.
In an emailed statement, the sheriff’s office confirmed Col. Christopher Rule and Col. Michael Hannaford entered their resignations, effective immediately, on October 17.
“The internal investigation into the allegations will continue until its conclusion, and we will release the findings once they are complete,” the sheriff’s office said.
According to authorities, Rule is under investigation for hiring a man named Robert Roush to write a research paper for a class with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Hannaford is also being investigated for paying Roush to write a report relating to a project.
Hannaford supervised the Department of Patrol Services, while Rule oversaw the Department of Support Services, according to the sheriff’s office website.
Their resignations are a part of a recent upheaval at the sheriff’s office as multiple top officials step down.
Former Chief Deputy Anthony Collins resigned four months into his historic promotion after he admitted to academically cheating while at the National FBI Academy. Emails obtained by 8 On Your Side show Collins corresponded with Roush to complete his coursework.
Capt. Lora Rivera, who was the deputy division commander for the professional standards bureau, and Major James Jackson, who was the district commander of court operations, stepped down earlier in October.
Rivera put in her resignation amid allegations she paid Roush to write her captain’s project. However, the sheriff’s office said the investigation into Jackson is “unrelated to any cheating on FBI coursework.”
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