Kissimmee Police discipline officers after 2023 use-of-force incident
Report details investigation of 2023 Kissimmee Police incident
A new 268-page report, compiled by the Orange County Sheriff?s Office, details alleged misconduct by a dozen officers with the Kissimmee Police Department ? including former Police Chief Betty Holland ? and how investigators said department leadership mishandled the fallout.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Thirteen members of the Kissimmee Police Department have faced disciplinary action after an independent investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office found serious misconduct stemming from a 2023 excessive force incident involving a former officer.
"This type of behavior will not be tolerated"
What we know:
The State Attorney’s Office and Orange County Sheriff’s Office both conducted independent reviews, which found additional concerns about the conduct and truthfulness of a dozen other officers involved.
"This type of behavior will not be tolerated," new Kissimmee Police Chief Charles Broadway said Wednesday. "It was not a department-wide cover-up, but rather one officer’s unacceptable and deplorable decisions."
Disciplinary actions include the following:
- Three employees resigned before the investigation concluded, including former Chief Betty Holland, former Deputy Chief Camille Alicea, and Baseggio, who was arrested in August 2024 on multiple felony charges.
- One officer, Darrius Benjamin, was terminated during the investigation.
- Three officers have since been fired.
- Two officers are set to be demoted.
- Three officers received 24-hour suspensions.
- One sergeant was exonerated.
The investigation concluded on May 27, 2025, but officials waited to release findings until all personnel had been formally notified, in accordance with Florida law.
Kissimmee PD disciplines 12 officers over misconduct
The Kissimmee Police Department is expected to present the findings of an independent investigation conducted by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. This investigation followed concerns the State Attorney’s Office raised in October 2024 regarding the conduct and/or truthfulness of several sworn officers. Tis comes after the former police chief and the deputy chief resigned following an investigation into a 2023 use-of-force case and allegations of systemic issues within the department. Former Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland and Former Deputy Chief Camille Alicia both resigned from their positions in October. On Oct. 21, then-State Attorney Andrew Bain's Office sent a letter to Kissimmee leadership requesting a formal investigation into allegations of untruthfulness and misconduct by some members of the police department. It also followed an Osceola County grand jury's findings and recommendations. Jamie Copenhaver, a former sheriff's detective and investigator joins FOX 35's Garrett Wymer live via Zoom to break down the allegations against the Kissimmee Police Department and the next steps after the reveal of the investigations' findings with the public.
"When misconduct is found, we will take action"
What they're saying:
Chief Broadway said reforms have been implemented to improve accountability and prevent similar issues in the future. Those steps include a revamped Internal Affairs Unit with civilian oversight, an enhanced early warning system for identifying behavioral concerns, and department-wide training in legal standards and crisis response.
Kissimmee Police Department investigation results | FULL
On Wednesday, the Kissimmee Police Department presented the findings of an independent investigation conducted by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. This investigation followed concerns the State Attorney’s Office raised in October 2024 regarding the conduct and/or truthfulness of several sworn officers.
"These decisions were not made lightly," Broadway said. "When misconduct is found, we will take action."
What's next:
The department also adopted new core values—Integrity, Honor, Courage, Excellence, and Service Above Self—as part of a broader cultural shift initiated under Interim Chief Robert Anzueto and continued under Broadway’s leadership.
Kissimmee Police Chief Charles Broadway
Officer Baseggio strikes suspect's face twice using his knee, uses taser 7 times
The backstory:
On April 22, 2023, Kissimmee Police Department officers responded to 603 Brack Street following a report of a man causing a disturbance.
Body camera footage shows a struggle between the man, later identified as Sean Kastner, and his father outside their home.
16 Kissimmee officers responded to the call:
- Andrew Baseggio
- Joshua Acevedo Lugo
- Jonathan Fernandez
- Gerry Garrett
- Omar Berrio
- Andrew Holmberg
- Darrius Benjamin
- Manuel Pepin
- Wilfredo Castro
- Dariel Quiles Davila
- TaKeya Close
- Jaylynn Nieves
- Moises Diaz
- Bradley Wheeler
- Michael Elder
- Lenora Wooten
While on scene, Officer Andrew Baseggio used his knee to strike Kastner in the face twice and used his taser seven times. Kastner was taken to the hospital to treat his injuries and was later booked into the Osceola County Jail, charged with Battery on a Person 65 Years of Age or Older and Resisting Officer without Violence.
Body cam footage sheds new light on incident
Body cam footage, when reviewed, revealed a troubling sequence of events.
Baseggio reportedly entered the home without a warrant and used force that went against the department's use of force policy, charging records show.
Kissimmee police officer accused of excessive force
A Kissimmee police officer is accused of attacking a man inside his home, while other officers allegedly covered it up. Now, the state attorney is raising questions.
In February 2024, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement launched an investigation into the April 2023 incident.
During their investigation, the former officer was accused of speaking with witnesses about their testimony and writing a falsified report to avoid an internal affairs investigation. The State Attorney’s office reported, "He admitted to asking a fellow officer to commit perjury."
Former Kissimmee officer pleads guilty to battery, misconduct
Former Kissimmee police officer Andrew Baseggio pleaded guilty to battery and misconduct charges related to a 2023 incident where he used excessive force during an arrest.
In August 2024, Officer Baseggio turned himself into the Osceola County Jail and was fired from the Kissimmee Police Department. He was formally charged with felony battery, two counts of tampering with a witness, official misconduct, solicitation for perjury and misdemeanor battery.
In April 2025, Baseggio pleaded guilty to battery and misconduct charges and now faces up to two years in prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 7, 2025.
Baseggio was hired by the department on January 2, 2007, and was assigned as an officer to the patrol division.
Multiple investigations: The major developments since the April 2023 incident
Timeline:
- April 22, 2023: Kissimmee police responded to the 600 block of North Brack Street for reports of a man causing a disturbance. The man was identified as Sean Kastner. Officers Andrew Baseggio, Darrius Benjamin and Jonathan Fernandez were involved in a response to resistance incident.
- July 2023: A Kissimmee Police Department internal investigation determined that Officer Baseggio used excessive force during the incident.
- October 2023: A local news outlet published a report on the April 2023 incident, prompting inquiries from the State Attorney’s Office and the FBI.
- November 2023: The State Attorney’s Office formally requested the Kissimmee Police Department conduct a criminal investigation into potential law violations related to the incident.
- December 2023: The Kissimmee Police Department declined the State Attorney’s request.
- February 2024: At the department’s request, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement launched an investigation into the April 2023 incident.
- May 2024: FDLE concluded its investigation and submitted a summary to the State Attorney’s Office.
- August 2024: Officer Andrew Baseggio was fired and turned himself into the Osceola County Jail.
- Late 2024: A grand jury in Osceola County reviewed the incident and the department’s handling of it. Officer Baseggio was indicted, and the jury issued recommendations to both the city and the department.
- October 2024: The City of Kissimmee requested the Orange County Sheriff’s Office conduct an administrative investigation based on findings from the grand jury.
- Late October 2024: Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland and Deputy Chief Camille Alicia both resigned from their positions.
- December 2024: The State Attorney’s Office completed its investigation into the matter.
- March 2025: Former Clermont Police Chief Charles Broadway named new chief of the Kissimmee Police Department.
- April 2025: Charles Broadway officially sworn in as Kissimmee's new police chief.
- Late April 2025: Former Kissimmee police officer Andrew Baseggio pleaded guilty to battery and misconduct charges. He faces up to two years in prison.
- May 2025: Orange County Sheriff’s Office concluded their administrative investigation. Following that, the department initiated a thorough internal review to determine fair and appropriate disciplinary actions, guided by established policies, legal standards, and its core values.
- June 2025: Kissimmee Police Chief Charles Broadway presents findings from the Orange County Sheriff's Office's administrative investigation.
- July 2025: Former Kissimmee police officer Andrew Baseggio's sentencing trial is scheduled for July 7, 2025.
Allegations of misconduct cover-up
Dig deeper:
In November 2024, the State Attorney's Office alleged that the Kissimmee Police Department had a history of concealing police misconduct.
Former Police Chief Betty Holland disclosed in a letter to the State Attorney's Office that an internal audit of past investigations uncovered multiple incidents that were never reported to the State Attorney’s Office. The cases span from 2015 to 2023.
These unreported cases involve violations related to excessive or unnecessary force by 11 officers across several incidents. Holland’s letter also noted four instances from 2022 to 2023 where officers’ use of force was deemed compliant with department policy, though entries into residences were improper. Altogether, 15 incidents should have been reported to the State Attorney’s Office, Holland stated.
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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Kissimmee Police Department, the Office of the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit and previous reporting by FOX 35 News.