Cop suspended over ammo

CORAL SPRINGS — A veteran police officer who misplaced ammunition and then lied about it has been suspended for five weeks without pay.

Louis Coldros, 44, tried to repurchase 40 rounds of ammunition on his own so he didn’t have to report the missing items, according to an Internal Affairs report released this week.

In June, the Police Department received a call from the company that supplies bullets, advising they were working on Coldros’ ammunition order for $ 38.52.

His bosses then demanded to inspect his equipment, but Coldros said the magazines for his gun were at his house. After he was sent home to retrieve it, he returned and told his bosses his vest, which contained two 20- round magazines, was missing and his car must have been burglarized, according to police records.

The items were found inside a SWAT vehicle on July 13. Officials said Coldros was on the scene of a shooting call on June 5, where the SWAT car was also used.

On Aug. 15, Coldros wrote a letter to Chief Tony Pustizzi expressing “my deepest regret.” “When I realized equipment was missing from my police car, I expected to be held accountable. In an attempt to avoid repercussions and face further criticism from my supervisors, I attempted to purchase and replace the missing items onmy own. With 18 years in law enforcement, I should have known better and disclosed the missing items right away.”

“Untruthfulness is unacceptable in our profession and will not be tolerated in this Police Department,” Pustizzi responded in a Nov. 1 letter.

Coldros could not be reached for comment Wednesday despite a message left on his voicemail at the Police Department. A police union representative declined comment.

Coldros’ suspension hours began Monday and will be spread out with scattered days through January to accommodate the department’s scheduling.