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Two officers from the Tampa Police Department have recently stepped down following accusations of becoming romantically involved with the same 911 dispatcher, who is officially designated as an emergency communications officer.
A probe into claims that three officers engaged in intimate relations with an emergency communications officer during their shifts concluded that Officers Nevin Morales and Ryan Fagan had contravened multiple policies of the police department, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times.
The professional law enforcement credentials for both officers were forwarded to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for evaluation in April, a process that could potentially lead to the revocation of those licenses.
Members of the Florida National Guard maintain a presence outside Tampa Police headquarters in downtown Tampa on Aug. 25, 2012, as the city prepares for Tropical Storm Isaac ahead of the Republican National Convention commencing on Aug. 27. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
The findings of the investigation were summarized by officials from the Tampa police and made public after a request for public records. The summary indicates that the investigation was initiated subsequent to a complaint lodged with the department’s Professional Standards Bureau.
The complainant, whose identity was not disclosed, asserted that three officers had been engaging in sexual encounters with an also unnamed emergency communications operator while on duty. This scenario could possibly stem from a complaint filed by someone who felt excluded. It is difficult to ascertain the precise circumstances.
Alternatively, it is equally plausible that this was an individual acting with integrity, refusing to allow personal relationships to compromise ethical conduct. It is unlikely we will ever know the true motivations behind the complaint, but that is not the central issue. Let us return our attention to the investigation.
The operator, whose employment status with the city is unclear based on the investigation’s summary, acknowledged meeting Morales for sexual activity on July 22, 2025. She stated that their encounter took place inside an SUV.
Communication records between the pair were also discovered, and investigators allege that Morales sent a message stating, “Best place to do it now I have more room in this new car.” The operator further claims that he arrived in a Ford Explorer that was not his usual vehicle.
Law enforcement officers from the Tampa Police Department and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office are seen investigating a fatal shooting in Tampa’s Ybor City neighborhood on Oct. 29, 2023. Reports indicate that two groups were involved in a gunfire exchange early Sunday morning in a lively area known for its bars and clubs. (Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
During his interview with investigators, Morales disputed the claims. He denied that the operator had ever been inside his vehicle and stated he did not recall sending the message, suggesting it might have been misinterpreted.
However, investigators reported that a supervisor had observed the operator entering his SUV and noted that Morales could not provide an explanation for the alleged message or how it could have been taken out of context.
In his conversation with investigators, Fagan admitted to “having close personal contact” with the same operator, though he did not perceive it as sexual. The investigators disagreed, citing text messages of a sexual nature exchanged between them.
Fagan is also accused of leaving a specialized assignment, located just two miles from the operator’s workplace, unattended and deactivating his body camera. Both officers were suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
A woman attentively manages critical 911 calls at an emergency communications center, demonstrating focus and care. (Getty)
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Fagan resigned in February, followed by Morales in March. The third officer implicated in having sexual encounters with the same operator was exonerated by the investigation and remains employed by the department.
“The entire situation was rather peculiar,” commented Brandon Barclay, president of the Tampa Police Benevolent Association. “I believe a significant factor was simply poor judgment.”
His assessment is accurate. Pursuing romantic liaisons can indeed lead to lapses in judgment if one is not sufficiently cautious.