The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested an employee after an investigation revealed he accessed emails of Sheriff’s Office employees without authorization.
58-year-old Bruce Hartmann, an IT Systems Administrator, was found to have accessed multiple Sheriff’s Office employees’ emails for non-work-related purposes. The alleged misconduct occurred from October 9, 2024, through the present day.
HCSO Information Services Division (ISD) personnel were notified of Hartmann’s unauthorized activities. Investigators determined that Hartmann accessed the emails of several employees.
During a recorded interview, Hartmann admitted to accessing the emails without authorization. He knowingly exceeded his work authorization, which strictly permits email access for legitimate work purposes only.
“HCSO takes any breach of trust and unauthorized access to sensitive information very seriously. This incident is a clear violation of our policies and the ethical standards we uphold,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Our agency is committed to holding individuals accountable for their actions to maintain the integrity and trust of our organization.”
Hartmann has been charged with one count of “Access Computer or Electronic Device without Authority.”
Hartmann was hired by HCSO on September 6, 2006, and has been suspended without pay as of January 22, 2025.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, according to local law enforcement.
