Update: The incident took place in Florida, not California.
Lately, it seems that more and more police officers are getting caught abusing the system in one way or another. Personally, I’ve been reading a lot of stories of officers who have been taking advantage of the controversial Flock camera system.
This time around, it seems that it isn’t just police officers; it’s fire officials as well. The Fire Chief in Orange County, Florida, recently resigned from his position, and while it seemed abrupt, new information was revealed that paints a bigger picture.
During a July conference on the department’s budget, Anthony Rios explained that the department’s budget comes directly from its operating expenditures. However, when asked about his brand-new car parked outside his office, he denied it.
It’s a good thing that some records, including emails shared about the vehicle, were shown.
Fire Chief Says “I Do Not” Have New SUV Despite It Sitting Outside
On July 15, 2026, according to video provided by WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando, Fire Chief Anthony Rios spoke at length about the Orange County budget. However, he did this with the knowledge that he had just received a 2026 Ford Explorer. In fact, it was already parked in front of his office.
Concerning the budget, Rios said, “That comes from our operating expenditures.” Immediately afterward, he was asked, “So, don’t you have a new car too?”
Instead of acknowledging that he had received this vehicle, he denied it, saying, “I do not.” Fortunately, a few emails obtained through a public records request showed that not only did he have the car, but he also spoke at length about which vehicle he wanted.
Emails Reveal Fire Chief Helped Pick Out SUV Weeks Before Denial
Several emails were obtained showing that nearly six weeks before the meeting, he spoke to both Martis Mack and Eric Fisher about “looking online for affordable options” and even asked, “Could we purchase a demo or courtesy vehicle?”
A few other quotes pulled from the emails aren’t very surprising, given the circumstances. He also wrote, “I like the features, but let’s price without leather. Even if it’s a bench seat.”
To really seal his own coffin, he also wrote, “Also, it would be nice to get one now versus having to wait until the end of the year.” According to records, the chief was driving a 2024 Ford Explorer with 28.248 miles, which he had received only a couple of years earlier.
The reasoning given for this new vehicle was, “Please take the lead in evaluating which option is best. As we are in hurricane season, this vehicle, being too low to the ground, presents limitations if I have to canvass the community. Also, the cargo area is too small to accommodate my PPE.”
Of course, when received, the chief made sure to check out the vehicle’s exterior and interior, citing, “inside molding is significantly scratched,” “There’s a chip in the paint on the front right fender,” and “I didn’t receive the owner’s manual.”
It was two days after sending a co-worker a list of items to be purchased for the new vehicle that he was recorded denying having it at all.
Comments Accuse Former Fire Chief of Lying Over Taxpayer-Funded SUV
Viewers weren’t particularly impressed by attempts to characterize the former fire chief’s comments as merely “inaccurate.” Several commenters argued there was a much simpler word for what they believed happened, with one writing, “Inaccurate? Just be honest. He lied.” Another sarcastically joked that apparently lies are now called “inaccurate statements.”
Others focused on the use of taxpayer money and questioned why the department needed to provide the chief with the SUV in the first place. Some described the situation as “waste, fraud, and abuse,” while others suggested police and fire departments should face greater scrutiny over how public money is spent.
Plenty of commenters also couldn’t understand why someone would potentially jeopardize an entire career over a vehicle. One person called it “stupidity on steroids,” while another described the situation as a complete disgrace “over a stupid car.” Others sarcastically predicted that the former chief would simply find another government position or somehow end up with a higher-paying job.
A few viewers questioned whether the SUV itself was the biggest problem. One commenter pointed out that department heads are commonly assigned work vehicles and wondered whether the chief was actually prohibited from having one, but even that viewer questioned why he would deny receiving a new vehicle during a budget hearing.
Overall, most of the reaction centered less on whether a fire chief should have access to a department vehicle and more on transparency surrounding its purchase. For many commenters, whatever justification existed for the SUV was overshadowed by what they believed were misleading statements about it in the first place.