Hillsborough County Schools: School security officer, Leroy King, arrested for pawning gun and equipment

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reported that a school security officer, Leroy King, 36, employed by Hillsborough County Schools was arrested on Friday, December 6, for pawning his agency-issued gun and equipment multiple times between June to December of 2019.

At the time of the incidents, King was employed as a school security officer at Mango Elementary located at 4220 Highway 579 in Seffner.

Leroy King
Image/HCSO

On October 18, King pawned his agency-issued ballistic vest, which is owned by Hillsborough County School Security, at a Cash America pawn store. As part of the transaction, King signed his name and provided a thumbprint swearing and affirming that the vest was his property. King was paid $125 for the transaction.

On November 2, King completed another transaction, pawning his agency-issued TLR1 Streamlight weapon mount light, also owned by Hillsborough County School Security. He was provided $50 for the transaction.

During an unplanned inspection at school by a school security supervisor, King was discovered to not have his duty-issued gun in his gun holster. He had replaced the gun with a toy pellet gun. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office was called to investigate the matter.

On December 5, the pawned ballistic vest and weapon mount light were recovered by an HCSO deputy at the pawn shop and returned to Hillsborough County School Security. During questioning at the School Security main office at 2920 N 40th St in Tampa, King admitted to pawning his agency-issued property due to financial difficulties. King also admitted to pawning his agency-issued Glock Model 22 .40 caliber handgun on six different occasions between June 28 to November 12. King had since paid the pawnshop back and recovered the firearm. King is facing 8 felony charges of providing false information on a pawn broker form.

“As a parent, I am outraged to know that someone given such a monumental task of protecting our children would so carelessly sell the weapon he was provided with to fulfill that purpose,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “We are fortunate that a catastrophic event did not happen during the time that Leroy King had sold his weapon, but it does not make his actions any less severe. We will ensure that he is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for breaking his oath to protect and serve.”

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