A New Orleans Police Department officer is facing 350 criminal charges following an investigation into alleged fraudulent overtime claims. The police officer was repeatedly seen at his home on camera during his working hours in an alleged overtime fraud case. According to authorities, the case involves discrepancies between the hours he reported and the hours investigators believe he actually worked.
Senior NOPD Officer Brandon Coleman was arrested after a joint investigation by the Louisiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division and the New Orleans Office of Inspector General. According to state police, investigators determined that Coleman received more than $111,000 in fraudulent overtime payments between December 2024 and December 2025.
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The case has drawn fresh attention to overtime spending at the New Orleans Police Department, while Coleman's attorney strongly disputes the allegations and says evidence will establish that the officer was working during the hours in question.
Who is Brandon Coleman?
Brandon Coleman is a senior police officer with the New Orleans Police Department. The overtime investigation began after questions were raised about his reported work hours and the amount he received in overtime compensation.
FOX 8 previously investigated NOPD overtime and reported that Coleman earned approximately $229,000 in 2025, more than three times his reported base salary of $68,000. Investigators later examined whether some of the overtime payments were improperly claimed.
The Louisiana State Police said investigators discovered that some of Coleman's reported work locations did not correspond with his actual locations during periods when he claimed overtime.
According to the state police investigation, Coleman allegedly submitted false public records to support the overtime claims.
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Why does Brandon Coleman face 350 charges?
The charges are divided into several categories. According to Louisiana State Police, Coleman faces:
- 325 counts of filing false public records
- 23 counts of public payroll fraud
- 1 count of malfeasance in office
- 1 count of theft
That adds up to 350 charges.
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State police said the investigation found discrepancies between the overtime hours Coleman reported and the hours investigators determined he actually worked.
The investigation also examined reported work locations, adding another layer to the allegations.
At a first appearance hearing, the Louisiana Attorney General's Office argued that Coleman collected more than $172,000 that he should not have been paid, according to FOX 8. That figure differs from the more than $111,000 in fraudulent overtime payments cited by Louisiana State Police in its arrest announcement.
Investigators say cameras showed Coleman at home
The allegations gained significant attention following FOX 8's “Unchecked Overtime” investigation.
According to the station, cameras repeatedly recorded Coleman at his home during periods when department records showed that he was clocked in for work. The news investigation prompted further scrutiny and eventually led to a joint investigation involving Louisiana State Police and the New Orleans Office of Inspector General.
The state investigation began in April 2026. Authorities then obtained an arrest warrant for Coleman based on their findings.
Brandon Coleman's attorney denies the allegations
Coleman's defense attorney, Bobby Hjortsberg, has strongly rejected the accusations.
Hjortsberg argued that simply seeing Coleman leave his home did not establish that he was not working. He said Coleman had responsibilities that could take him away from the station and pointed to his work during Mardi Gras and across the city.
“Brandon Coleman is one of the hardest working NOPD officers on the force. The charges against him are absolutely baseless,” Hjortsberg said, according to FOX 8.
The attorney also said the defense has physical evidence that he believes will show Coleman was working during the periods identified by investigators.
Hjortsberg maintained that Coleman is innocent and said he looks forward to presenting the evidence. As with any criminal case, the allegations against Coleman have not been proven in court.
Coleman was released on bond
Coleman turned himself in following the investigation and was booked into the Orleans Justice Center.
After his first appearance, he posted $17,000 bond and was released. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 9, 2026, according to FOX 8.
Coleman has been placed on unpaid administrative leave while the case proceeds.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the department cooperated with the investigation and emphasized the importance of accountability and integrity within the agency.
NOPD overtime investigation leads to broader changes
The Coleman case is part of a larger examination of overtime practices within the New Orleans Police Department.
FOX 8 reported that Coleman is the second NOPD officer arrested as a result of its overtime investigation. Former NOPD Sgt. Henry Burke was arrested in February and later fired, while internal investigations involving other officers were continuing.
The investigation has also resulted in changes to NOPD's timekeeping system.
According to the Office of Inspector General, those changes were credited with saving the department more than $8.3 million during the first six months of 2026, representing a 45% reduction in overtime spending.
That makes the Coleman case part of a much larger conversation about how public agencies track overtime, verify employee work hours and protect taxpayer money.
