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Criminal Defense for Law Enforcement Officers
Tampa Bay’s Trusted Defense Attorney for Officers Under Investigation
| Trusted by Those Who Protect Tampa Bay Attorney Rocky Brancato serves as on-call attorney for officer-involved shootings with the Tampa Police Benevolent Association and the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association. He is a former police academy instructor. |
For law enforcement officers, few moments are more devastating than being on the other side of the law. Whether you serve with the Tampa Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, or any agency in the Tampa Bay area, an arrest or criminal investigation brings risks that reach far beyond the courtroom.
Moreover, for officers who have spent their careers putting people behind bars, the stakes are uniquely personal. You are not just fighting for your freedom—you are fighting for your career, your reputation, your safety, and your future. I am Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Rocky Brancato. My firm, The Brancato Law Firm, P.A., can help put you back in duty, where you belong.
Law Enforcement Agencies We Serve
| Hillsborough County | Pinellas County | Pasco County |
| Tampa Police Department | Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office | Pasco County Sheriff’s Office |
| Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office | St. Petersburg Police Department | Florida Highway Patrol |
| Plant City Police Department | Clearwater Police Department | Correctional Officers |
| Temple Terrace Police Department | Largo Police Department | School Resource Officers |
| USF Police Department | Tarpon Springs Police Department | Federal Officers |
| TIA Police Department | Pinellas Park Police Department | All Tampa Bay Agencies |
The Stakes Are Higher for Officers
For most defendants, the concern is avoiding fines, probation, or jail. For officers, however, the impact can be far harsher. Because of your “position of trust,” prosecutors may argue for tougher treatment than they would for a civilian.
Loss of Second Amendment Rights
A conviction—even a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction—can mean the permanent loss of your Second Amendment rights. As a result, you would be unable to carry the very weapon that has defined your career. For an officer, losing firearm rights effectively ends your law enforcement career.
Personal Safety Concerns
If you have put people behind bars over the course of your career, the loss of your badge and firearm creates personal safety risks. Consequently, you lose not only your ability to work but also your ability to protect yourself and your family from those who may harbor grudges.
FDLE Certification at Risk
FDLE reviews criminal cases and administrative findings. Even if your case does not result in a conviction, disciplinary findings from an internal investigation can threaten your law enforcement certification. Therefore, protecting your certification requires defending against both criminal charges and administrative consequences.
| Prosecutors Seek Harsher Penalties for Officers Because of your position of trust, the State may seek to make an example of you. You need a defense attorney who will push back aggressively against that narrative. |
Charges We Defend Against
The Brancato Law Firm defends officers against a wide range of criminal charges. Each type carries its own risks, but for law enforcement officers, the professional consequences often outweigh even the criminal penalties.
| Charge Type | Officer-Specific Consequences |
| DUI | Immediate administrative leave, media exposure, career damage |
| Domestic Violence | Permanent loss of firearm rights (even misdemeanor), career-ending |
| Sex Crimes | Sex offender registration, loss of certification, prison danger |
| Drug Crimes | Immediate termination, FDLE decertification, federal charges possible |
| Violent Crimes | Civil rights violations, excessive force claims, federal investigation |
| Officer-Involved Shootings | Criminal charges, civil liability, administrative investigation |
If You Have Faced Rocky Brancato’s Cross-Examination Before
Many officers in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties have already faced Rocky Brancato in court. His cross-examinations are known for dismantling investigations and exposing weaknesses in testimony.
If you have ever been on that side of the stand, you know how difficult that pressure can be. However, when Rocky Brancato is in your corner, the equation flips entirely. His loyalty becomes 100% to you. Those accusing you will face the same relentless defense you once experienced in the witness box.
Trusted in the Most Serious Situations
The Tampa Police Benevolent Association and the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association trust Attorney Brancato to serve as on-call attorney for officer-involved shootings. That trust comes from more than 25 years of high-level criminal defense in Tampa Bay’s courts.
These organizations chose Rocky to serve the law enforcement community because they know he provides the most strategic, loyal, and high-level criminal defense available in the Tampa Bay area. Rocky knows that sometimes the chief law enforcement officer will take adverse positions against you in the media, for their own political expediency. He is not afraid and he is ready to change the narrative.
Unique Perspective from the Public Defender’s Office
Before founding The Brancato Law Firm, P.A., Rocky Brancato served as Chief Operations Officer of the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office—the largest criminal defense operation in the county. In that role, he collaborated extensively with law enforcement agencies across Hillsborough County.
As a result, he gained a perspective that few defense attorneys possess. That experience now informs his defense of officers who find themselves under investigation.
I Know What You Were Trained to Do—Because I Taught It
As a former police academy instructor, I trained officers on criminal procedure and courtroom testimony. I know what you were taught about Fourth Amendment searches, Miranda requirements, use of force documentation, and how to present yourself on the stand. When prosecutors or internal affairs try to second-guess your split-second decisions, I can put your actions in the context of your actual training—not some unrealistic standard invented after the fact.
Protecting Law Enforcement Officers’ Rights
Officers and correctional officers face unique risks that civilians do not. Therefore, a defense strategy must protect your rights at every stage:
- Garrity protections during internal affairs questioning
- Independent review of evidence, from body-worn cameras to reports and witness statements
- Defense strategies tailored to certification risks and administrative hearings
- Strategic reputation management to limit media and public exposure
- Aggressive courtroom representation against prosecutors who seek to make an example of you
Personal Attention on Every Case
Every law enforcement officer case at The Brancato Law Firm, P.A. is personally represented by Rocky Brancato. You will not be passed off to a junior lawyer or treated as just another file number. There is too much at stake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Officers questioned by internal affairs may be required to give a statement under Garrity protections. This means the statement cannot be used against them in a criminal case. However, what you say can still affect your employment and certification. As a result, it is vital to have legal counsel before speaking.
Yes, they can—and they often do. Prosecutors frequently argue that officers should be held to a higher standard because of their position of trust. Consequently, this can result in harsher plea offers or sentencing recommendations. A skilled defense attorney can push back against that narrative and highlight the weaknesses in the State’s case.
Even a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction can cause the permanent loss of your Second Amendment rights under federal law. For an officer, that means losing the ability to carry a firearm—and effectively ending your career in law enforcement.
FDLE reviews both criminal cases and administrative findings. Even if your case does not result in a conviction, disciplinary findings from an internal investigation can threaten your law enforcement certification. Therefore, defending both the criminal case and the administrative case is essential.
Media coverage of an officer’s arrest can cause lasting damage—often before the case is even resolved. As a result, a comprehensive defense strategy does more than fight in the courtroom. It also considers strategic reputation management, working to limit unnecessary exposure that could harm your career and your future.
Garrity protections come from the Supreme Court case Garrity v. New Jersey. They prevent statements made during compelled internal affairs interviews from being used in criminal prosecutions. However, these protections have limits, and what you say can still affect your employment. Therefore, consulting an attorney before any internal affairs interview is critical.
Take Action Before It’s Too Late
Investigations move quickly, and hesitation can cost opportunities to protect your record, your rights, and your reputation. If you are a law enforcement officer in Hillsborough, Pinellas, or Pasco County and are under investigation or facing charges, you need an attorney who understands what is at stake.
Your career, your reputation, and your freedom deserve a defense attorney trusted in the most serious cases—an attorney who will fight with the same precision in your defense that once challenged you in the courtroom.
Call (813) 727-7159 for a Confidential Consultation
620 E. Twiggs Street, Suite 205, Tampa, FL 33602
On-Call Attorney for Tampa Police Benevolent Association & Suncoast PBA
Related: Tampa DUI Lawyer | Tampa Domestic Violence Lawyer | Tampa Sex Crimes Lawyer | Tampa Homicide Lawyer
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