SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — During March of 2014, concerns were raised at the Sanford Police Department that Lt. Joseph Santiago had set a “March Madness” ticket quota of 1,000 for his squad, according to his personnel file.
Santiago, 49, made headlines recently when he was arrested and accused of punching and head butting his girlfriend.
After the arrest, Channel 9 requested his personnel file, which contained information about the “March Madness” ticketing quota.
Channel 9 asked about the allegations when they first came to light in 2014, but at the time, Chief Cecil Smith said his department did not condone quotas.
When Santiago’s personnel files were made public, Smith condemned the lieutenant’s actions but took a part of the blame for not alerting Channel 9 to the information, which was requested in 2014.
“That is something that falls upon us,” he said. “As the chief, I have to take that responsibility.”
Santiago was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the battery case involving his girlfriend.
Cox Media Group
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