KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Kissimmee Police Department will make changes in the wake of a months-long independent investigation into the conduct of some of the city’s police officers surrounding a 2023 use of force case, according to WKMG (News 6).
Since last year, News 6 has been following the controversy that caused the Kissimmee Police Chief to resign, and a former officer to plead guilty to criminal charges that could lead to prison time.
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New Kissimmee Police Chief Charles Broadway briefly talked about the findings and the changes being made in a news conference on Wednesday.
Broadway says the investigation led to three members of the force being fired, two being demoted, and three being suspended.
The agency also released the full 268-page report, detailing messages, emails, interviews and other conversations between the officers in question.
Broadway says he has hired a new assistant chief of police to help ensure officers are following agency policies and added new members to the internal affairs unit.
The agency will also enhance efforts to identify “red flags” in employees early on and intervene with more training. Broadway also wants to make sure employees are reporting wrongdoing when they see it.
“It is about building a culture and building environment, and also building a culture and environment where people are quick and feel at ease to report wrongdoing,” said Broadway, who became the police chief in April.
Broadway also promised to work closely with the state attorney’s office to make sure the agency was upholding its own directives.
“I can tell you that we will be consulting with the State Attorney’s office or with anything that rises to a level of criminal nature,” Broadway said. “I can tell you that sustained violations that meet that moral character, moral turpitude will be forwarded to the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission."
News 6 community reporter Mike Valente asked Broadway if the report will contribute to skepticism of law enforcement by Osceola County residents, especially in light of the recent criminal charges against another leader, Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez.
“I can understand,” Broadway said. “And I would tell them, I would respond and say, ‘Changes have been made, changes are still coming and progress -- those responsible have been held accountable.’”
The investigation stemmed from a 2023 use-of-force case involving former Kissimmee Police Officer Andrew Baseggio. In August 2024, News 6 reported that a grand jury indicted Baseggio of felony battery, misdemeanor battery, official misconduct, solicitation for perjury, and witness tampering.
In October 2024, the Orange-Osceola state attorney’s office accused 11 KPD officers of not being truthful about the incident during the course of an internal investigation, including making inconsistent statements during interviews.
The letter specifically called out Kissimmee Police Chief Betty Holland, who resigned on Oct. 29, 2024.
Then, on Oct. 31, prosecutors released the findings of a grand jury, which concluded that the agency “fosters a culture of silence where officer misconduct is not only not reported, but accepted,” prosecutors said at the time.
Prosecutors say evidence showed Baseggio’s excessive use of force was known, but they did nothing to stop it and did not report it.
They also said Holland showed Baseggio the final report into the incident before prosecutors could review it. They say this allowed him to tamper with witnesses.
The report, which summarized the independent investigation conducted by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, accused former Police Chief Betty Holland of incompetence and compromising a criminal case.
The report criticized her for not relieving Baseggio of duty, as is a common policy during use-of-force incidents, not initiating a criminal investigation into Baseggio’s actions, not notifying the state attorney’s office about Baseggio’s misconduct, and giving conflicting testimony to the state attorney’s office.
“Chief Holland grossly mismanaged the aftermath of an excessive use of force incident involving an officer of the Kissimmee Police Department and failed to take appropriate action in numerous facets of her duties and responsibilities, which compromised the integrity and efficiency of the agency and impacted a criminal investigation conducted by the State Attorney’s Office,” the report concluded.
The report said Holland declined to be interviewed during the investigation.
Other officers were criticized for failing to identify inconsistencies in Baseggio’s arrest report, providing false information, being obstructive to the state attorney’s office, and generally failing to be truthful during sworn testimony.
Of the 13 people named in the report, Broadway said Holland and Deputy Chief Camille Alicea resigned prior to the investigation, while Baseggio left the force, and another officer was fired.
At the end of the investigation, three officers were fired, and two, a sergeant and a corporal, were demoted to officer rank.
Three more, a lieutenant, a sergeant, and a corporal, were suspended for 24 hours without pay.
One of the 13 named in the internal affairs report was exonerated, Broadway said.
Baseggio pleaded guilty to felony battery, witness tampering and official misconduct in April 2025. He is expected to be sentenced in late June. He is facing jail time.
Broadway stressed that while several employees were disciplined because of this investigation, it was not an indictment of the agency as a whole.
“This was not a department-wide cover-up,” Broadway said. “The actions of a few who have been held accountable do not reflect the values, the commitment, the dedication, the integrity of the men and women of the Kissimmee Police Department as a whole.”
The situation at the agency led to calls to revive a civilian oversight board for KPD.
On Tuesday, Kissimmee leaders gave initial approval to revive that board. A second vote is still needed for final approval.
