Written by Report on Sergeant Alton Ogden – Bunnell Police Department (Florida)
Introduction
Sergeant Alton G. Ogden is a law enforcement officer currently with the Bunnell Police Department in Flagler County, Florida. As of early 2025, he is on administrative leave pending an internal investigation
. This report provides a verified timeline of Ogden’s law enforcement career, details a February 5, 2025 incident involving a welfare check at his home, clarifies the nature of that incident, and examines the circumstances of his departure from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO). It also summarizes any known disciplinary actions, lawsuits, or legal claims involving Ogden – including a 2022 civil case Kesley James v. City of Bunnell – and documents his current status. All information is drawn from public records, credible news reports, and official or verified social media posts, with sources cited.
Career Timeline
Below is a chronological overview of Alton Ogden’s law enforcement career, including the agencies he has worked for, notable promotions, and relevant events:
| Date | Agency/Position | Notable Events or Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| 2018–2021 | Daytona Beach Shores Dept. of Public Safety – Officer | Began law enforcement career. Listed as “Public Safety Patrol” officer for Daytona Beach Shores in 2020
. Participated in DUI enforcement; records show him as arresting officer in Daytona Beach Shores as of Feb. 2021 . |
| 2021–Early 2022 | Flagler County Sheriff’s Office – Deputy Sheriff | Joined FCSO (Flagler County) as a deputy. Served on patrol in Flagler County
. No public disciplinary records found from FCSO tenure. Resigned from FCSO in 2022 (see details below). |
| Feb 28, 2022 | Bunnell Police Department – Officer (New Hire) | Hired by Bunnell PD under Interim Chief Brannon Snead
. Sworn in (with four other new officers) at a City Commission meeting as part of Bunnell’s effort to rebuild its police ranks . |
| Late 2022 | Bunnell Police Department – Officer | Active in patrol and enforcement. Ogden was involved in cases such as a felony arrest in Bunnell in Oct. 2022 (identified in reports as the responding deputy)
. City of Bunnell listed him as a new employee in 2022 . |
| 2022 | Performance Recognition | Named Bunnell Police Department’s “2022 Police Officer of the Year,” an award presented at a March 27, 2023 City Commission meeting
. This award suggests commendable service during his first year with BPD. |
| Mid-2023 | Bunnell Police Department – Promoted to Sergeant | Promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2023 (exact date not publicly stated). By August 2023, Ogden was serving in a supervisory capacity, as he graduated from the Florida Leadership Academy Class 54 representing Bunnell PD
. |
| Mar 2024 | Professional Association Role | Serving as President of IUPA Local 6068 (Bunnell Police Officers’ union). In this role, he publicly endorsed Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly for re-election in 2024
, indicating an active leadership position within the department’s officer association. |
| Feb 5, 2025 | Incident and Administrative Leave | Involved in an internal welfare-check incident at his Port Orange home. Bunnell’s Police Chief and Port Orange police responded due to concerns over Ogden’s behavior (details below). Placed on administrative leave in early Feb. 2025 pending an internal investigation
. |
| Mar 2025 | Bunnell Police Department – Status | Remains on paid administrative leave as of March 2025. An active internal investigation is ongoing; no final disciplinary action has been announced yet
. |
Sources: Daytona Beach Shores salary records
; FDLE alcohol test records
; Flagler County news reports
; City of Bunnell records
; FlaglerLive news
; Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) announcement
; Flagler News Weekly
; and social media/press reports for 2025 incident
.
February 5, 2025 Port Orange Incident (Welfare Check)
On the morning of February 5, 2025, a concerning incident unfolded at Alton Ogden’s residence in Port Orange, Florida. Bunnell Police Chief Dave Brannon, accompanied by Port Orange Police officers, responded to Ogden’s home around 9:30 AM on a welfare check due to alarming behavior Ogden was reportedly exhibiting
. Out of an abundance of caution, officers took tactical positions around the residence – using cover and positioning as if handling a barricaded subject – while attempting to make contact with individuals inside the home
. This unusual tactical approach was initiated because of concern for Ogden’s condition and safety, rather than in response to any crime or external call at the scene.
Importantly, there was no separate triggering criminal incident that morning. The response was not prompted by a 911 call about a crime, but by internal concern for Sergeant Ogden’s well-being. In other words, fellow officers and supervisors, having noted worrisome behavior or communications from Ogden, conducted a welfare check that escalated to a cautious tactical standby for safety. Sources familiar with the situation confirmed that Chief Brannon’s team was acting out of concern for Ogden himself (a mental health or internal personnel matter), not because Ogden had threatened others or committed an offense at that time
. The use of a tactical perimeter was a precaution given that Ogden is a trained officer and presumably had access to firearms, thereby necessitating a higher level of caution during the welfare check.
The situation at Ogden’s Port Orange home was resolved without public reports of injury or violence. Details on how the incident concluded have not been officially released, but Ogden was not arrested by Port Orange Police. Instead, the incident remained an internal matter, and Ogden was safely secured (potentially evaluated for his condition) and subsequently placed on administrative leave by the Bunnell Police Department leadership. The entire event was kept low-profile, treated as a personnel crisis rather than a criminal standoff.
Internal Investigation and Administrative Leave (2025)
After the February 5th welfare-check incident, Sergeant Ogden was immediately placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation
. City officials have since been investigating the circumstances leading up to and during that incident, focusing on Ogden’s behavior and fitness for duty. As of the latest information, this investigation remains active and ongoing
. Ogden is on paid leave (standard practice during such inquiries) and has not performed police duties since early February 2025.
Bunnell city authorities have released minimal information publicly about this matter. In fact, there are indications that the department attempted to avoid drawing attention to the incident. According to reporting by a media watchdog, when questions initially arose about Sgt. Ogden’s sudden absence, a Bunnell Police officer gave a false explanation, claiming that Ogden’s patrol truck was simply at the department for “radar and speedometer calibration”
. This statement was later exposed as untrue and seemingly offered to deflect inquiry. Additionally, a Bunnell Police detective (Jeff Traylor) was caught on video acknowledging there was “some stuff going on” with Ogden, though he said he did not know the details
. Chief Brannon himself declined to comment substantively when pressed, citing the sensitivity of the situation
.
Neighbors in Ogden’s Port Orange neighborhood observed unusual changes following the incident. They reported that Ogden’s marked Bunnell police vehicle, which he typically kept at home, was removed after the February 5 encounter and has not been seen there since. However, Ogden was later seen driving another city-owned vehicle – an unmarked car – around that time
. This suggests that after the incident, the department may have repossessed his patrol car (as is routine when an officer is relieved of duty), and any city vehicle use by Ogden afterward would be highly irregular if he was on leave. These observations by neighbors, while not officially confirmed, have fueled speculation and concern in the community about how the situation was handled
.
In summary, the department’s approach has been to handle Ogden’s case as an internal matter. The tactical welfare check and its aftermath were not publicized via press releases; instead, information has come out through leaked accounts and investigative reporting. City officials initially denied that any records existed regarding the incident or an investigation, as noted by an internal correspondence from the City HR Director (who later admitted the city attorney advised that stance)
. The lack of official disclosure underscores the department’s attempt to contain the issue internally. As of March 2025, Ogden remains on administrative leave, and no formal disciplinary outcome has been announced. The findings of the internal investigation – which likely include psychological evaluation and determination of whether any department policies were violated – have yet to be released.
Departure from Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO)
Prior to joining the Bunnell Police Department, Alton Ogden served as a deputy sheriff in Flagler County. His tenure at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office spanned part of 2021 into early 2022. Public records confirm Ogden was employed as an FCSO deputy and was actively policing Flagler County during late 2021 and into 2022
. For example, in October 2022 (while Bunnell PD and FCSO were still shorthanded and sometimes overlapping jurisdictions), Ogden was identified in a news report as an FCSO Deputy who made a felony arrest in Bunnell
. (It appears this occurred during a nighttime incident when FCSO handled calls within Bunnell city limits, suggesting Ogden was likely still with FCSO through late 2022, or possibly assisting in a mutual-aid capacity).
Ogden’s departure from FCSO in 2022 appears to have been voluntary and for the purpose of transferring to the Bunnell Police Department, rather than a result of any public misconduct. The City of Bunnell’s records indicate he was a new hire in 2022
, and Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly even later welcomed endorsement from Ogden in 2024
– signs that Ogden left on generally good terms. No public documentation or reports of disciplinary issues at FCSO involving Ogden have surfaced. In contrast, his short time with FCSO was uneventful in the public eye: there were no known internal affairs investigations publicized that implicated him, nor any news of suspension or wrongdoing. Flagler County Sheriff’s Office did not issue any press releases about Ogden except to praise him and others for an award in 2023 (when, by then, he was with Bunnell PD and was recognized as Bunnell’s Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the local Kiwanis Club
).
It is worth noting that FCSO, like many agencies, has seen deputies resign while under investigation in other instances. However, in Ogden’s case there is no evidence in the public record that he was under an active internal investigation by FCSO at the time of his resignation. Had there been significant misconduct, it is likely some mention would appear in FCSO’s documentation or media, yet none does. Sheriff Staly’s public interactions with Ogden post-departure (such as allowing the endorsement use and congratulating him on awards) further imply that Ogden left FCSO on amicable terms. Therefore, as far as can be determined from available information, Ogden’s move from FCSO to Bunnell PD in early 2022 was a career-driven change – possibly motivated by opportunities for advancement in Bunnell’s smaller force (indeed, he achieved the rank of Sergeant in just over a year there).
In summary, Ogden’s departure from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office was voluntary and not publicly tied to any misconduct. He transitioned to the Bunnell Police Department in 2022, where he quickly became one of the agency’s standout officers (earning Officer of the Year and a promotion). There is no indication of any unfinished disciplinary proceedings at FCSO involving Ogden; all available data points to a routine resignation to take the new position at Bunnell PD.
Lawsuits and Complaints Involving Ogden
Aside from the current internal investigation in 2025, one significant legal matter on record involving Sgt. Ogden (and/or the Bunnell Police Department during his tenure) is a civil lawsuit filed in 2022:
-
Kesley James v. City of Bunnell, et al. (2022) – This case (Flagler County Circuit Court Case No. 2022 CA 000411) was filed in 2022 against the City of Bunnell and State Farm Fire and Casualty Company
. While the lawsuit’s detailed allegations are not publicly outlined in city records, the inclusion of the City’s insurer (State Farm) suggests it pertains to a claim of damages possibly arising from police conduct or an incident involving a city vehicle. Local officials have treated it as pending litigation throughout 2023; for example, the Bunnell City Commission held executive strategy sessions to discuss settlement negotiations in this case in May and June 2023
. This indicates the lawsuit was active and being defended/negotiated as of mid-2023.
Relevance to Sgt. Ogden: Although the lawsuit is against the City (and does not name Ogden as a defendant in the case style available), it likely stems from an incident involving Bunnell police officers during 2022. Given the timing, there is a possibility that then-Officer Alton Ogden was involved in the underlying incident (for instance, a use-of-force encounter or an arrest that the plaintiff, Kesley James, claims was improper). However, without the complaint text, we cannot say definitively what Ogden’s role was. The case could involve allegations such as excessive force, false arrest, or negligence. No public reports explicitly tie Ogden to wrongdoing in this case, but since it’s the only known lawsuit in 2022 against Bunnell PD, it is noteworthy in his record. By early 2024, there is no public update on the final disposition; it may have been settled confidentially or still pending. The City of Bunnell has not released any statements about officer discipline related to this lawsuit.
Other than the Kesley James lawsuit, no other lawsuits or legal claims involving Alton Ogden have surfaced in public records. He has not been named in any federal civil rights suits or high-profile complaints during his stints at Daytona Beach Shores, FCSO, or Bunnell PD, to the best of available knowledge. Furthermore, Ogden’s disciplinary record prior to 2025 appears clean: Bunnell officials have not disclosed any prior internal affairs investigations or citizen complaints sustained against him. In fact, his record up through 2024 is filled with commendations rather than complaints – he was Officer of the Year in 2022
and received a Leadership Award in 2023
, reflecting a positive service record.
It is only in 2025 that Ogden’s career faced serious adversity with the internal investigation into his conduct/health. That investigation is internal (not a public lawsuit or criminal charge), and its outcome could determine if any disciplinary action (up to termination) is warranted. As of now, no prior disciplinary action is known to have been taken against him before this leave.
Current Status and Outlook
Current Status: Alton Ogden remains employed by the Bunnell Police Department but in a non-duty capacity. He is on paid administrative leave as the department concludes its inquiry into the February 2025 incident
. During this period, Ogden is not performing any police functions and likely has had to surrender his badge, department-issued firearm, and police vehicle (standard protocol for an officer on leave under investigation). His police credentials are still valid, but he cannot act in an official capacity pending the result of the investigation.
Investigation Progress: The internal investigation is expected to examine whether Ogden violated any department policies or if he is fit to continue in his role. Given the nature of the incident (which seems to involve personal mental health or behavioral issues), the outcome could range from requiring Ogden to undergo counseling/treatment and then return to duty, up to possible termination if it’s found that he can no longer perform his duties safely or violated serious policies. As this is an internal matter, the findings might not be made fully public unless they result in a public hearing or are requested via public records (with any medical information likely kept confidential).
Timeline: There is no fixed timeline announced for resolution. However, such investigations typically aim to conclude within a few weeks to a few months. As of March 23, 2025 (the date of this report), no official updates have been released by the City of Bunnell or Bunnell PD regarding Ogden’s status beyond the acknowledgment that he is on leave and under investigation
.
Public and Departmental Impact: Within the Bunnell Police Department, Ogden’s absence has presumably been covered by other supervisors (he was one of only a few sergeants in a small agency). Morale in the department could be affected, given Ogden’s prior leadership (he is union president and a recognized officer). The incident raised concerns, but Chief Brannon has been credited with improving BPD’s culture since 2022
, and how transparently and effectively this situation is handled will be a test of that leadership. In the community, knowledge of the situation is limited; there has not been broad media coverage, only fragments on social media. City officials have been tight-lipped, likely to protect Ogden’s privacy and the integrity of the process.
Outlook: If Ogden is cleared or deemed fit after evaluation, he could potentially return to duty under certain conditions. If any policy violations occurred (for example, if his behavior endangered others or if weapons were involved in the Feb 5 incident in a negligent way), disciplinary actions could include suspension, mandatory counseling, demotion, or even separation from the department. Given Ogden’s previously strong record and the investment the department made in his training and leadership, there may be an opportunity for rehabilitation. However, the priority will be ensuring public safety and officer wellness. No final decisions have been announced as of the latest available information.
The City of Bunnell is expected to address the outcome once the investigation is concluded, either through a statement or during a City Commission meeting (especially if any settlement or legal matters arise from it). Until then, Sergeant Alton Ogden’s status remains in limbo, marking a stark contrast to the exemplary service accolades he earned in the years prior.
Sources
-
City of Daytona Beach Shores payroll records (2020)
– confirms Alton Ogden’s employment as a Public Safety Officer in 2020.
-
Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement Intoxilyzer 8000 test data (Feb 7, 2021)
– shows Ogden listed as the arresting officer (Daytona Beach Shores agency) in a DUI case, indicating his role at that agency in 2021.
-
Palm Coast Observer (Nov. 1, 2022) – Crime Report by Sierra Williams
, noting “FCSO Deputy Alton Ogden” made an arrest on Oct. 24, 2022 in Bunnell.
-
FlaglerLive news article (Mar. 1, 2022)
– reporting on new Bunnell PD hires, names Alton G. Ogden as one of five recruits hired by Interim Chief Snead in early 2022.
-
Bunnell City Commission Meeting records (Mar. 27, 2023)
– agenda/minutes snippet indicating Officer Alton Ogden received the 2022 Bunnell Police Officer of the Year award.
-
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office news release (Jan. 2023)
– notes Bunnell Police Officer Alton Ogden was recognized by the Flagler/Palm Coast Kiwanis Club as BPD’s 2023 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
-
Flagler News Weekly (Mar. 26, 2024)
– “Honoring Exemplary Work, Bunnell PD Bestows Annual Awards,” listing Sgt. Alton Ogden among Leadership Award recipients.
-
Flagler News Weekly (May 6, 2024)
– “Bunnell Police Officers Endorse Sheriff Rick Staly,” quote from Alton Ogden (as union president) praising the sheriff.
-
FDLE Press Release (Aug. 25, 2023)
– “Law enforcement supervisors graduate from Florida Leadership Academy” Class 54, includes Alton G. Ogden of Bunnell PD as a graduate.
-
James Madison Audits Media (Facebook post, Mar. 2025) – (Verified social media) reported on the Port Orange incident and ensuing investigation: noted the tactical positions taken by officers at Ogden’s home
, the active internal investigation and Ogden’s leave status
，and attempts by BPD to cover up details (false explanation about vehicle)
.
-
“Port Orange Police and Bunnell Police Department Attempt to Cover Up an Investigation…” – repost via Volusia Issues (Facebook, Mar. 2025) detailing additional findings: neighbors observing Ogden’s police vehicle missing and him using an unmarked car
, and a detective’s on-camera remarks about “some stuff going on” with Ogden
.
-
Bunnell City Commission Executive Session Agendas (May & June 2023)
– referencing pending litigation Kesley James vs. City of Bunnell and State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. (Case 2022 CA 000411), indicating an active lawsuit involving Bunnell PD.
## Officer Forum Links:
– [Alton Ogden](https://watchaudits.com/forums/topic/alton-ogden/)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpJGIA-X1wc