Concerns Over Leadership, Use of Force, and Police Culture at Palm Bay PD

Palm Bay, Fla. — Allegations of excessive force, questionable leadership decisions, and a culture of favoritism have raised concerns about the Palm Bay Police Department (PBPD). Former Deputy Chief Lance Fisher, who served the department for two decades, has spoken out about internal concerns over officer misconduct and leadership practices, citing cases that resulted in serious injuries and ongoing lawsuits.

Federal lawsuits and public scrutiny have increased in recent months, putting the department’s practices under the microscope.

Federal Lawsuit Raises Questions Over Use of Force

According to WESH 2 Investigates, a federal lawsuit has been filed against Palm Bay officers, alleging excessive force during an arrest that resulted in serious injuries. The lawsuit accuses officers of false arrest and unnecessary violence during the detention of a man who later required hospitalization.

The Palm Bay City Attorney’s Office has denied wrongdoing, stating in court filings that any injuries sustained were caused in part by the plaintiff’s own actions.

However, the lawsuit highlights concerns about police tactics and the handling of arrests by the department.

According to WESH 2, court records show that one of the officers named in the lawsuit was also involved in a separate 2024 arrest that left another man paralyzed.

The lawsuit is scheduled for trial in 2026.

Man Left Paralyzed Following Arrest

Another high-profile case involving Palm Bay officers has drawn further attention to use-of-force policies within the department.

In June 2024, Thomas Farley suffered a spinal injury after being repeatedly tased while climbing over a fence during an encounter with police, WESH 2 reports. Body camera footage reportedly captured Farley telling officers, “Sir, I think I broke my neck.”

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Farley’s family, has called the police response excessive and unjustified, arguing that Farley should never have been tased in the first place.

His family has since called for all charges against him to be dropped so that he can receive proper medical care.

The Palm Bay Police Department has defended its officers’ actions, stating that they followed department policy.

Jacob Mitchell’s Arrest Sparks Additional Questions

Concerns over excessive force within PBPD have been further heightened by the December 2022 arrest of Jacob Mitchell.

According to Space Coast Rocket, Mitchell’s arrest was caught on a home security camera, and the footage quickly went viral on social media. The video shows officers repeatedly tasing and striking Mitchell in the face. He was hospitalized for several days before being transferred to the Brevard County Jail.

An arrest affidavit from Palm Bay Police states that Mitchell, 22, was approached by officers after allegedly making a false 9-1-1 call about armed teenagers. Initially denying involvement, Mitchell later admitted that he fabricated the story.

According to the report, Officer Cole McDonald attempted to place Mitchell under arrest, but he allegedly resisted by pulling away from officers. The affidavit states that Mitchell attempted to grab at the officer’s police vest and other equipment, prompting officers to deploy a taser multiple times and deliver what they described as ‘forward striking distractors’ to his face to subdue him.

The affidavit claims Mitchell fled on foot before being tased again and handcuffed. He was later charged with battery on an officer, resisting arrest with violence, and other offenses.

However, Space Coast Rocket reports that the home security footage does not clearly show Mitchell acting aggressively toward the officers. The Palm Bay Police Department has not yet released the full body camera footage from the arrest.

Lance Fisher, the former deputy chief, has pointed to this case as part of a larger pattern within PBPD, where the same group of officers has been involved in multiple use-of-force incidents. “We as a staff recognized that a specific squad had several questionable uses of force incidents,” Fisher said. “Staff continued to justify the use of force until an officer tased a man off a moving motorcycle, breaking his clavicle and ribs. That same officer later tased Thomas Farley off a wooden fence, causing paralysis.”

Concerns From Former Deputy Chief

Former Deputy Chief Lance Fisher says he began questioning department leadership after observing repeated cases of force being used by one squad within the department.

“We as a staff recognized that a specific squad had several questionable uses of force incidents,” Fisher said. “We openly discussed concerns with the number and types of force that were being used, and how it was specific to one squad.”

Fisher detailed a specific 2023 case where an officer tased a man off a moving motorcycle, causing multiple fractures. Despite the severity of the incident, Fisher says the officer was neither fired nor criminally charged.

“I felt that when Chief Augello refused to terminate the officer and seek criminal prosecution, he placed our community and officers in danger,” he said.

According to Fisher, that same officer was later involved in the incident that left another man paralyzed.

Allegations of Targeting a Sober Living Facility

Fisher also raised concerns about what he described as “inappropriate use of police resources” against a sober living facility located near the PBPD chief’s home.

“Around March 2024, I became concerned that Chief Augello was using police resources for personal gain to harass a sober living facility that was located across the street from his residence,” Fisher stated.

According to Fisher, police records show 185 calls for service to that location over a nine-month period, compared to just one police-initiated call at other similar facilities in the city.

Fisher says Palm Bay’s City Attorney had warned against specifically targeting the residence, citing federal housing protections.

“Even though the City Attorney told Chief Augello in a meeting that a city could not specifically target a sober living facility (Oxford House) because the residence was protected under the Federal Fair Housing Act, he still went after them,” Fisher said.

Calls for an External Review

Fisher and other critics have called for an independent review of Palm Bay’s use-of-force cases over the past three years.

“An agency that does not have ties to Brevard County needs to come in and look at the current culture,” Fisher said.

He referenced similar reviews in other Florida police departments, which have led to leadership changes and restructuring.

“It is time to break the ‘good old boy’ system that has been created over the past decade and hire an outside Chief that can lead and serve a diversified community,” he said.

So far, Palm Bay officials have not publicly responded to calls for an outside investigation.

Palm Bay Police Responds

The Palm Bay Police Department responded to the allegations, defending its policies and leadership.

“The Palm Bay Police Department remains committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and accountability in serving our community. Recent allegations made by a disgruntled former employee regarding our department’s use-of-force policies and promotional practices are entirely false and without merit.

The Palm Bay Police Department has been a fully accredited agency for the past 15 years, most recently achieving Excelsior Status through the Florida Commission for Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA), a distinction that represents the highest level of excellence in law enforcement accreditation. Our most recent accreditation review found no violations of policies or procedures, reaffirming our firm commitment to transparency, ethical policing, and best practices.

Our policies regarding use of force, promotions, and officer accountability are designed to prioritize community safety while ensuring fairness and professionalism. Promotions within the department are based solely on merit, experience, and qualifications, not likability, as falsely alleged. Additionally, our use-of-force policies align with local and state best practices, with stringent oversight and accountability measures in place.

We stand by the integrity of our officers and the rigorous standards that govern our operations. The Palm Bay Police Department remains dedicated to fostering trust with our community through transparency, accountability, and professionalism.”

Ongoing Investigations and Lawsuits

With lawsuits moving forward and additional scrutiny on department practices, the coming months may determine whether PBPD leadership will face further review.

For now, the department maintains that officers followed policy in key cases, while critics argue that a deeper investigation is needed to ensure accountability.

Palm Bay Live will continue following this story and providing updates.