CLEARWATER – A Florida police officer was taken into custody on Tuesday for allegedly abusing his position to solicit sexual favors from a pedestrian. Nicolas Paloma, 29, who has been a part of the Clearwater Police Department since 2018, is facing charges of sexual battery and false imprisonment, according to Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy.
The incident occurred early Sunday morning near the Clearwater Beach roundabout, where Paloma had reportedly stopped a 32-year-old woman. Chief Gandy informed the media that the woman was identified as a tourist. Paloma allegedly told the woman that he would refrain from citing her for jaywalking and charging her with sexual misconduct if she performed sexual acts on him.
“I had to check myself before coming in here, because I’m exceptionally upset at the betrayal of trust in the level of confidence that people have in our officers,” Chief Gandy said during a news conference. “It’s exceptionally damaging to our reputation and the reputation of everyone in law enforcement.”
The arrest follows an internal investigation led by the Clearwater Police Department, which has led to Paloma’s immediate suspension pending further review. This case not only casts a dark shadow on the department but also raises serious concerns about the abuse of power among law enforcement officers. Chief Gandy emphasized that such misconduct is “exceptionally damaging” to the reputation of the police force and that the department is taking the matter extremely seriously.