Joint Press Conference to Discuss Arrest of Clearwater Police Department Detective for Public Corruption (24-103)

CLEARWATER - On August 6, 2024, detectives from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Clearwater Police detective on eight felony public corruption charges.

On July 24, 2024, a press conference was held to discuss “Operation Snow Cap”, a drug trafficking organization in Pinellas County. At some point during the yearlong investigation, Fredrick Lise was made aware of the investigation so that detectives could obtain additional information about the drug organization. Lise was assigned to the Clearwater Police Department Narcotics Unit and had access to confidential law enforcement databases. At the end of the “Operation Snow Cap” investigation, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office detectives learned that over the course of several months, Lise had sent several text messages to two of the main suspects in the case, Matthew Turner and Henry Smith, alerting them that they were being watched.

Earlier today, August 6, 2024, Lise was arrested and transported to the Pinellas County Jail. He has been placed on Administrative Leave pending the outcome of Clearwater Police Department's internal investigation.

During the press conference, Sheriff Gualtieri said, “Lise is supposed to be looking out for cops, not putting them in harm's way. Lise was supposed to be getting drugs off the street, not protecting drug traffickers so they could sell more drugs, and Lise has betrayed everything that law enforcement officers stand for. At the end of the day, he’s a corrupt cop that needs to go to prison”.

Chief Gandy said, “This leaves me really angry beyond belief – he’s the president of the officers’ union and he represents hundreds of Clearwater officers and their interests. It appears that he put the interest of drug traffickers over those interests of his own officers.” 

Additional Information: 

Clearwater Police Department

Fredrick Lise (Suspect – Arrested)
Age: 32
Hire Date: 10/20/2014