Pensacola Police Review Files After Officer Arrest
The department is auditing personnel records following the arrest of former officer Matthew Baxter on multiple felony counts.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Law Enforcement
The Pensacola Police Department has launched a comprehensive review of all personnel background checks after former officer Matthew Baxter was arrested on serious felony charges. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is currently investigating the case.
Why it matters
The audit aims to maintain high operational standards and ensure that all police personnel were properly vetted during the hiring process. This action follows the discovery that specific documentation, including a polygraph printout, was missing from Baxter's file.
Matthew Baxter faces 43 felony counts, including 30 charges of sexual activity involving animals and four charges of possessing child sex abuse material. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is leading the investigation into his employment history.
The players
Matthew Baxter
He is a former police officer who faces multiple felony charges including child pornography possession and digital voyeurism.
Pensacola Police Department
This is the law enforcement agency currently auditing its internal personnel files and hiring protocols.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
This state-level agency is responsible for investigating the criminal case brought against the former officer.
The details
The review was prompted by the discovery of missing records, including a physical polygraph printout, within Baxter's personnel file. Moving forward, the department has mandated that all new hire polygraph tests undergo mandatory peer review by more than one examiner.
Timeline
Matthew Baxter was initially hired as a police officer in 2001.
He was rehired as a part-time officer in 2018.
Baxter was terminated from his security contract at Echo Life Church on October 4, 2026.
The Police Chief announced the personnel file review on October 28, 2026.
Legal Context
The agency's move follows the 2026 internal review of Pensacola police hiring protocols established to address gaps in background vetting. This audit represents a shift toward more stringent, multi-examiner verification for all staff polygraph testing moving forward.
Residents may see an increase in transparency as the department verifies the background of all sworn personnel. No immediate changes to daily police response times or public safety services have been announced.
The takeaway
The department is emphasizing rigorous vetting through new peer-review requirements for polygraph examinations. Officials are working to restore public confidence by conducting a full audit of existing personnel files.
Further reading
Learn more about local oversight at Law Enforcement.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pensacola News Journal.
