Florida Police Officer Arrested for Overtime Fraud Involving Girlfriend Chief
A Florida police officer has been arrested after allegedly collecting overtime payments while spending time with his girlfriend, who also served as his chief, according to police statements. Christian R. Madsen, 31, was taken into custody on February 25 following accusations that he fraudulently earned more than $14,000 over approximately 200 hours of falsely claimed shifts.
Investigation Reveals Relationship and Misconduct
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters addressed reporters, confirming that investigators from his integrity unit had been probing Madsen since early March 2026. A tip-off highlighted claims made between December 1, 2025, and February 7, 2026, suggesting Madsen spent some of his shifts at the home of JSO Chief of Patrol Support Jaime Eason.
"We started looking into it about three weeks ago, and we did find that he had traveled to her home during those overtime hours, and there was a relationship," Sheriff Waters stated. "It took three weeks of really hard work by these detectives, very in-depth work by these detectives to make a case, a very strong case to bring him to justice."
Chief's Resignation and Inspirational Legacy
Jaime Eason, who was the first woman appointed as chief of the patrol division in 2022, has since resigned from her role. Shortly after her appointment, she told News 4 Jax that she hoped to inspire young women, saying, "I love that because I can then say, hey, you know - to the young officers that are females or just young kids - 'Hey, work hard, and you can get to where you need to get and lead.'"
Sheriff Waters expressed disappointment, noting, "I'm very disappointed. She knows that. We talked. When someone messes it up, then we have to address it, so we've done that." Authorities are still investigating whether Eason knew Madsen was on duty during his visits to her home.
Charges and Ongoing Investigation
Madsen has been suspended and faces possible termination. Sheriff Waters described the allegations as a "deliberate, ongoing course of criminal behavior, rather than a reflection of an administrative error or isolated accident." He was charged with grand theft, organized fraud, and official misconduct on February 25, all third-degree felonies.
An arrest report reviewed by The Jacksonville Florida Times-Union revealed that the investigation compared Madsen's cellphone location data with internal and external safeguards. Detectives also analyzed computer-aided dispatch records, radio transmission logs, and other databases.
Madsen's Troubled Employment History
Madsen's employment history, as reported by The Times-Union, includes several "chargeable" traffic crashes in 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021. He also allegedly violated body-camera policy in 2021 and failed to attend required training or a scheduled appointment in 2024.
The Independent has contacted the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for further comment on the case, which underscores ongoing concerns about police integrity and oversight in the region.
