TAMPA, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has arrested 40-year-old Deni Antonic of New Port Richey on charges of false impersonation and uttering a forged instrument, both felonies. Antonic, a former Tampa Police Department (TPD) officer, resigned from the department before completing his probationary period.
The case began after Tampa Police notified FDLE of an internal incident involving one of their employees, a latent print analyst, who was arrested for forging official law enforcement credentials for her husband, Antonic. According to investigators, Antonic used the forged credentials in an attempt to apply for an Armed Security Officer license through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).
An FDACS employee reviewing Antonic’s application recognized that the credentials appeared fraudulent and immediately alerted TPD. That discovery triggered a joint investigation between Tampa Police and FDLE, ultimately leading to Antonic’s arrest.
Investigators determined that the forged documents were designed to falsely present Antonic as a certified law enforcement officer in good standing, which would have helped him qualify for an armed security position. Authorities emphasized that the deception undermined the trust and integrity associated with official law enforcement identification.
“When a law enforcement officer in the state of Florida chooses to defraud the system, it is a disappointment and a betrayal of public trust,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “Through the partnerships of law enforcement and civilians, we continue to uphold integrity and justice in the free state of Florida.”
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson also commended the employee who detected the fraud, saying, “This fraudulent attempt to obtain an armed security officer license using a fake law enforcement credential was quickly spotted thanks to the vigilance of our employee. We appreciate the diligent work of FDLE and the Tampa Police Department in investigating this case and holding those responsible accountable. Let this be a reminder that attempts to cheat the system rarely succeed.”
On October 1, Antonic was taken into custody and booked into the Pasco County Detention Center. The case will be prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit.
The investigation remains active.
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