News


FDLE arrests former child protective investigator

 

For Immediate Release

March 18, 2015

 
MIAMI - The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested former Department of Children and Families child protective investigator Shani Smith, 35, on six counts of official misconduct after an investigation found she falsified records in the Catalina Bruno case.  The DCF Office of Inspector General referred the case to FDLE and assisted in the investigation.
 
According to Smith’s case notes, Bruno had been referred for a substance abuse evaluation which came back negative.  However, the investigation found Smith never referred Bruno for the substance abuse evaluation.  In May 2013, five months after Smith’s investigation closed, Bruno’s 11-month-old son was found dead in an unventilated vehicle.  At the time of the child’s death, Bruno had been drinking alcohol. 
 
Smith turned herself into the FDLE Miami Office and was transported and booked into the Turner Gilford Knight Correctional Center.  The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office will prosecute the case. 
 
For Further Information Contact:
Gretl Plessinger, Samantha Andrews or Steve Arthur
FDLE Office of Public Information
(850) 410-7001
 

 

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FDLE is composed of five areas: Executive Direction and Business Support, Criminal Investigations and Forensic Science, Criminal Justice Information, Criminal Justice Professionalism and Florida Capitol Police. FDLE’s duties, responsibilities and procedures are mandated through Chapter 943, FS, and Chapter 11, FAC. To learn more about these areas, read our Statement of Agency Organization and Operation or visit our Open Government page.