The Shocking Truth: Was Officer Kiersten Oliver Of TPD Fired After Viral Evidence-Planting Scandal?
The question of whether Tallahassee Police Officer Kiersten Oliver was fired remains a central point of contention and public debate in late December 2025, following a high-profile scandal that shook the community's trust in the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD). The controversy stems from viral body camera footage that appeared to show Officer Oliver engaging in highly questionable conduct during a routine traffic stop, leading to widespread demands for her immediate dismissal and criminal investigation.
The details of the case are complex and deeply troubling, involving accusations of evidence planting, an initial defense of the officer by TPD leadership, and a controversial trial outcome that saw the civilian involved convicted. This article provides the most up-to-date information on Officer Oliver's status, the timeline of the incident, and the lasting impact on police accountability in Leon County.
Officer Kiersten Oliver: Biography and The DUI Controversy Timeline
Officer Kiersten Oliver became the focus of national attention not for heroic action, but for a controversial May 2023 traffic stop that was captured on her body camera. At the time of the incident, Oliver was a relatively young officer, reportedly 26 years old, serving with the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD). Her career trajectory was irrevocably altered by the events that unfolded during the stop of a Tallahassee resident, Calvin Riley Sr..
- Full Name: Kiersten Oliver
- Role: Police Officer, Tallahassee Police Department (TPD)
- Age at Incident: Approximately 26 years old
- Date of Incident: May 2023
- Civilian Involved: Calvin Riley Sr. (56 years old)
- Incident Location: South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida
- Initial Charges: Speeding, no headlights, and Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
- Key Allegation: Planting an empty liquor bottle in Riley's vehicle during the stop.
- Officer's Defense: Oliver claimed she poured the liquid out of the bottle, citing a non-existent "TPD Policy #42" which she said prohibited impounding liquids as evidence.
The body camera footage, which was later edited and released by the progressive media site OurTallahassee, showed Oliver placing an object—identified as an empty liquor bottle—into Riley's vehicle. This footage became the central piece of evidence in the subsequent legal proceedings and the catalyst for the public outcry against the TPD.
The Shocking Trial Outcome and TPD's Initial Stance
The evidence-planting allegation against Officer Oliver led to a highly scrutinized trial for Calvin Riley Sr. The defense, led by 2nd Judicial Circuit Public Defender Desirée Goodfellow, aggressively cross-examined Officer Oliver, highlighting the inconsistencies in her testimony and the visual evidence from the body camera footage.
Despite the compelling video evidence suggesting misconduct, the jury ultimately found Calvin Riley Sr. guilty of DUI. He was sentenced to ten days in jail and six months of probation. The verdict sent shockwaves through the community, with many viewing it as a profound miscarriage of justice and a demonstration of systemic issues within the Leon County court system.
In the immediate aftermath of the video going viral, the Tallahassee Police Department, under the leadership of Police Chief Jay Revell, issued a statement publicly standing by Officer Oliver's conduct during the stop. This official position drew intense condemnation from local activist groups, including the Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC), and led to a contentious public verbal fight between City Commissioners John Dailey and Jeremy Matlow over the city's handling of the case.
Was Officer Kiersten Oliver Actually Fired? The Unconfirmed Status
The question that continues to dominate discussions of police accountability in Tallahassee is the ultimate fate of Officer Kiersten Oliver's employment. The initial search query, "officer oliver tallahassee fired," reflects the widespread public demand and expectation for her dismissal following the evidence-planting allegations.
The definitive answer is not clearly reported in current, widely-cited news sources. While community groups and activists, such as the TCAC, explicitly demanded the firing and resignation of Officer Oliver for her "unlawful behavior" and blatant misconduct, no major, recent news report confirms that the Tallahassee Police Department officially terminated her employment.
- Public Demand: Numerous rallies and community actions demanded the TPD terminate Officer Oliver and hold her criminally accountable for perjury and evidence planting.
- Internal Investigation: TPD initiated an internal investigation, but the outcome regarding her disciplinary action or employment status has not been made public with a clear "fired" announcement in the same manner the bodycam footage went viral.
- The Ambiguity: The lack of a clear report stating "Kiersten Oliver was fired" suggests one of three possibilities: 1) She was disciplined but retained her job, 2) She quietly resigned to avoid termination, or 3) TPD's internal investigation concluded without finding grounds for firing, a scenario that would further inflame public outrage.
The case has become a national flashpoint for discussions on police integrity, the power of body camera footage, and the role of police unions, such as the Big Bend Police Benevolent Association, in protecting officers accused of misconduct. The public's desire for police accountability is directly tied to the unconfirmed status of Officer Oliver, as her continued employment (or quiet resignation) would be seen by many as a failure of the system to self-police.
The Lasting Impact on Police Accountability and LSI Keywords
The Officer Oliver controversy extends far beyond a single DUI case. It has created a lasting impact on several key areas, becoming a case study for police misconduct and judicial fairness.
The case highlighted the critical importance of body camera footage as an independent witness. Without the video, Calvin Riley Sr.'s claims would likely have been dismissed outright. The incident also sparked intense scrutiny of TPD's internal processes, particularly the integrity of their internal investigation and the department's initial willingness to defend the officer's actions. This has fueled the larger movement for a civilian-led Police Review Board in Tallahassee.
Key entities and themes that emerged from this scandal include the debate over perjury in police testimony, the ethical standards of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, and the power of local media outlets like OurTallahassee to drive the narrative. Regardless of her final employment status, Officer Kiersten Oliver's name is now inextricably linked to the issue of evidence planting and the ongoing fight for police accountability in Florida and across the nation. The community continues to monitor the situation, demanding transparency and justice for Calvin Riley Sr. and a clear resolution to the question of Officer Oliver's disciplinary fate.
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