New Orleans officer faces over 350 charges

A New Orleans Police Department officer, Brandon Coleman, is facing 350 criminal charges related to alleged fraudulent overtime claims. The investigation, conducted jointly by the Louisiana State Police and the New Orleans Office of Inspector General, uncovered discrepancies between the overtime hours Coleman reported and the actual hours he worked.

According to authorities, Coleman received over $111,000 in fraudulent overtime payments between December 2024 and December 2025. Coleman was arrested after cameras captured him at his home during working hours, as revealed in FOX 8's "Unchecked Overtime" investigation. Coleman's defense attorney, Bobby Hjortsberg, argues that the allegations are baseless and presents evidence supporting Coleman's claim that he was working during the alleged fraudulent periods.

Coleman was released on bond after turning himself in following the investigation and is scheduled to appear in court on September 9, 2026. The case has sparked broader discussions about overtime practices within the New Orleans Police Department, leading to significant changes in the department's timekeeping system, which reportedly saved the department over $8.3 million in its first six months of 2026.