A Brevard County sheriff’s deputy named the agency’s “2025 Deputy of the Year” has resigned and faces termination after an internal affairs investigation into wide-ranging misconduct, according to multiple media reports.
Michael Fultz stepped down after the sheriff’s office substantiated allegations that included the misuse of Flock Safety license-plate reader cameras, unsafe firearm handling during off-duty sexual encounters, traffic stops, and racial slurs.
The inquiry began in March 2026, on the same day Fultz received the award, when his ex-girlfriend contacted the agency. She wrote that her goal was not “personal retaliation but to ensure the agency is aware of conduct that, in my understanding, may conflict with departmental policies or professional standards.”
An audit revealed Fultz searched his ex-girlfriend’s license plate in the Flock camera database before a shift, labeling it an “investigation.” According to the report, Fultz denied tracking her out of revenge but could provide no legitimate reason for the off-duty query.
Investigators also examined photos of Fultz placing a handgun in the woman’s mouth and pointing it at her head during consensual sex. The report noted the weapon resembled his agency-issued sidearm, and Fultz admitted to ignoring all firearm safety training.
The report further detailed repeated traffic stops where Fultz rode his motorcycle without reporting encounters to supervisors—including being clocked by a state trooper at 111 mph—as well as a pre-hire photo showing him mimicking Adolf Hitler and text messages containing racial slurs.
Fultz had received the Deputy of the Year honor and a Medal of Valor for fatally shooting an armed, suicidal suspect in April 2025.
Following the internal findings, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey wrote that Fultz’s conduct caused irreparable damage and posed an “unacceptable risk.”
In a statement to News 6, Fultz acknowledged exercising poor judgment, stating that while he did not agree with every allegation, “the investigation reached its conclusions, my career with BCSO ended, and I accept that outcome.”
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