St. Pete Officer Terminated For Improper Use Of Gas Card: Police

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A detective with the St. Petersburg Police Department was terminated after a review board found him guilty on Monday of using a police-issued gas credit card improperly.

According to investigators, surveillance video from a gas station in Bradenton showed Detective Corey Johnson using a St. Petersburg Police Department credit card to pay for fuel in his unmarked police take-home vehicle, and in another vehicle driven by a family member.

Detectives said Johnson was only authorized to use the credit card to put gas in his work vehicle for work purposes.

The investigation showed Johnson misused his gas card several other times, police said.

Because the misuse occurred outside the city of St. Petersburg jurisdiction, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office filed a charge of petit theft against Johnson.

Johnson was sworn as a St. Petersburg Police officer on March 9, 2015, authorities said.

At the time of his termination, he worked in the vice and narcotics division.

A report will be forwarded to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission to determine whether Johnson will keep his state certification.