Senior NOPD Officer Brandon Coleman was arrested on 350 counts after investigators say undercover cameras recorded him at home during hours he had claimed as overtime. Authorities allege Coleman received more than $111,000 in disputed overtime between Dec. 2024 and Dec. 2025, and prosecutors told the court the figure could exceed $172,000. Coleman’s lawyer disputes the allegations and says the defense will present evidence he was working; Coleman is on unpaid administrative leave and will return to court on Sept. 9. The case prompted expanded biometric timekeeping at NOPD, which officials say cut overtime spending by about $8.3 million in early 2026.
Senior NOPD Officer Arrested on 350 Charges After Undercover Cameras Allegedly Showed Him Home During Reported Overtime
Image Credit: New Orleans Police Department.
Senior New Orleans Police Department Officer Brandon Coleman, 39, has been arrested on 350 criminal counts after a joint investigation found discrepancies between overtime he reported and undercover camera footage investigators say shows him at home during some of those hours.
Louisiana State Police and the New Orleans Office of Inspector General say Coleman received more than $111,000 in allegedly fraudulent overtime pay from December 2024 through December 2025. At Coleman’s first court appearance prosecutors told Orleans Parish Criminal District Court they believe the improper payments could exceed $172,000.
Authorities obtained an arrest warrant and took Coleman into custody on August 7, 2026. He was booked on 325 counts of filing false public records and 23 counts of public payroll fraud, plus one count of theft and one count of malfeasance in office — for a total of 350 charges. Judge Juana Lombard found probable cause on all counts; Coleman posted a $17,000 bond and was released. He is scheduled to return to court on September 9.
What investigators cite: A newsroom investigation by local station FOX 8 first flagged Coleman after payroll records showed he was among the department’s highest-paid officers. Undercover cameras then recorded Coleman at his residence during times department records indicated he was on the clock. One example cited: a timesheet showing a 6:25 a.m. shift start on July 22, 2025, while video showed Coleman entering a police vehicle at 10:08 a.m. On July 29, video captured him leaving home at 7:41 a.m. after records again listed a 6:25 a.m. start.
Coleman’s attorney, Bobby Hjortsberg, strongly disputes the charges and called them "absolutely baseless," saying the defense has evidence showing Coleman was performing police duties during the disputed periods. Hjortsberg noted Coleman handled citywide assignments and Mardi Gras details that sometimes require officers to be away from a precinct or mobile while on duty.
The NOPD placed Coleman on unpaid administrative leave while the independent investigation proceeds. NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the department cooperated with investigators and will continue to do so.
Coleman is the second NOPD officer arrested after FOX 8’s "Unchecked Overtime" reporting. Former Sgt. Henry Burke was arrested earlier in 2026 on a separate payroll case and later fired; his matter was reportedly referred to federal prosecutors.
Departmental response and reforms: Following the reporting, the NOPD expanded biometric timeclocks that require officers to clock in at assigned locations. The Office of Inspector General said the changes helped reduce overtime spending by more than $8.3 million in the first six months of 2026, a 45% decline compared with prior periods.
Prevention and reporting: Investigators and payroll auditors say agencies can curb payroll fraud by cross-checking submitted timesheets against assignment logs, building access records, vehicle movement data and other independent records. Red flags include unusually high annual hours for repeated shifts, frequent manual edits to time records, and employees consistently earning multiples of their base salary. Supervisors should not be able to approve unexplained edits without an audit trail, and organizations should routinely review overtime by employee, assignment and approving supervisor to identify overlapping or concentrated shifts.
New Orleans residents and city employees with tips about suspected misuse of public funds can report to the New Orleans Office of Inspector General online, by email or by phone; tips with supporting documentation are encouraged.
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