Nicholas Zotto
Service Record
New York City New York Police Department
| Rank | Officer |
| Salary | $76,321 (2019)[1] |
| Last Known Status | Separated[2] |
Bradenton Florida Police Department
| Rank | Officer |
| Dates of Service | October 25, 2020[3] to September 13, 2021[3] |
| Salary | $53,833 (2021)[4] |
| Last Known Status | Resigned[2] |
Hardee County Florida Sheriff's Office
| Rank | Deputy |
| Dates of Service | April 2022[5] - November 1, 2023[6] |
| Last Known Status | Terminated[5] |
Incident Reports
2021 Muzzle Discipline
On May 6, 2021, Zotto and other officers apprehended a suspect in a shooting incident, during which Zotto pointed his firearm at two other officers.[3]
The incident was captured on Zotto's body-worn camera.[3]
Response Timeline
Zotto received remedial training.[3]
2021 Officer Safety
On August 6, 2021, Zotto and other officers were serving a firearms-related warrant. Zotto was found alone with the suspect and turned his back to the suspect. Other officers took control of the suspect and ordered Zotto to handcuff him.[3]
Response Timeline
Zotto received four weeks of additional training around officer safety and defensive tactics.[3]
2021 Off-duty Employment
On August 23, 2021, the department received a complaint that Zotto was using his title as an officer to solicit off-duty employment. Zotto had not disclosed the off-duty employment to the department. Zotto referenced his title when making complaints about another person at their job.[3]
Response Timeline
On September 13, 2021, the Assistant Chief met with Zotto to discuss the above incidents and others. Zotto resigned.[3]
2023 Animal Cruelty
Zotto ran a pet sitting business. Videos of "concerning behavior" toward a dog were posted online.[5]
Response Timeline
On October 3, 2023, Zotto, who was on paid administrative leave for a separate incident, was moved to unpaid leave for this incident.[7]
On November 1, 2023, Zotto was fired.[6]
Zotto was charged with first-degree misdemeanor animal cruelty.[8]
LEO Ratings
References
- ↑ Nicholas Zotto A, Police Officer, Police Department, govSalaries
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Claire Farrow, Hardee County deputy fired, criminally charged over animal abuse allegations, WTSP, 2023-11-02
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Officer Nicolas Zotto, Bradenton Police Department, 2021-09-13
- ↑ Nicholas Zotto, City of Bradenton, govSalaries
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Kevin Accettulla, Hardee County deputy fired over animal cruelty at pet sitting business: SAO, WFLA, 2023-11-02
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hardee County Sheriff's Office Terminates Deputy Nicholas Zotto, Hardee County Sheriff's Office
- ↑ Dawn Kitterman, Sorting Social Media Fact from Fiction in the Pawsome Sitters Case, The Bradenton Times, 2023-11-05
- ↑ Kimberly Kuizon, Former Hardee deputy faces animal cruelty charge after video shows him hitting, dragging dog, FOX 13, 2023-11-02
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