Fired Miami-Dade Cop Arrested in Deltona After Using Old Badge to Impersonate Police, Deputies Say

DELTONA, Florida — A former Miami-Dade police officer who once earned “Officer of the Year” honors was arrested this week after allegedly using his old badge and ID to impersonate law enforcement, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies identified the suspect as Paul Fluty, 39, who was fired in May after failing a drug test. Authorities say Fluty falsely presented himself as part of a “task force” during a bizarre encounter in a residential driveway.

Deputies Confront Former Officer

Deputies approached Fluty while he sat in a parked vehicle in Deltona, about 30 miles north of Orlando. Body camera footage shows him presenting a badge and a digital image of his police ID before claiming he was tracking a missing girl.

According to Fluty, the girl “keeps on pinging” within a three-block radius and was supposedly evading marked patrol cars. Investigators, however, say there was no such investigation and confirmed Fluty is not affiliated with any federal task force.

Arrest and Alleged Excuses

Hours later, deputies arrested Fluty, who appeared confused as he was handcuffed. “What did I do?” he asked in the footage.

During transport, Fluty insisted, “You can Google my name. I got officer of the year and everything. I don’t know how I’m impersonating.”

The sheriff’s office said Fluty later told investigators he showed the badge “out of habit” and claimed he accidentally misrepresented himself as a police officer.

Past Recognition and Current Status

Ironically, Fluty’s career once earned him high praise. In 2020, he was named Miami-Dade Police Officer of the Year after being shot during an attempted arrest of a domestic battery suspect. The award even came with a brand-new Toyota Tundra from a local sponsor.

But his downfall came in May 2025, when he was terminated following a failed urine test. Officials now say he may actually be working as a private investigator conducting insurance-related inquiries in the Deltona area.

Fluty was booked on false personation charges and released after posting bail the next afternoon.

The arrest highlights how quickly a once-celebrated officer’s career unraveled — from public honors to allegations of deception. For more breaking law enforcement updates, follow ChicagoMusicGuide.com.