Following a series of investigative reports, a police sergeant in the town of Oakland, located in west Orange County, has been dismissed from his position. Earlier this year, concerns were raised regarding the sergeant’s appointment shortly after he resigned from a different police department amid an investigation that accused him of misappropriating taxpayer funds.
The Oakland Police Department recently confirmed that Barry Strykowski, who served as a night sergeant, has been released from his duties. The decision follows detailed inquiries by investigators earlier this month, which prompted scrutiny over the initial hiring decision.
In the previous year, Strykowski had applied for a position in Oakland while being investigated by the Mount Dora Police Department in Lake County. His application omitted crucial details, indicating no previous involuntary terminations or resignations, despite evidence to the contrary.
Strykowski’s resignation from Mount Dora was part of a separation agreement, despite substantial evidence collected by the Mount Dora Police Chief. GPS data and time card reviews suggested he had been involved in fraudulent activities over a period of at least five months, constituting a criminal offense. However, these findings were not reported to Florida’s Department of Law Enforcement Standards and Training Commission, which is responsible for law enforcement certification oversight.
Questions have arisen regarding why this incident was not escalated. Mount Dora Police Chief Mike Gibson cited discretion in handling the matter without formal reporting, accepting responsibility for the decision not to pursue official action.
It was later discovered that Oakland had not requested Strykowski’s full personnel file until after his hiring. The only documentation provided was an email from Mount Dora Captain Victor Uvalle, falsely stating Strykowski had no pending cases or disciplinary record. Uvalle is now undergoing investigation to assess possible policy violations.
The investigation into whether Strykowski misrepresented facts during his application process is ongoing. Should findings confirm deceit, the Oakland Police Department has indicated it will forward the results to the relevant state commission, which could lead to the revocation of his law enforcement certification.