Jacksonville Beach Police employee fired after shoplifting accusation

A Jacksonville Beach Police employee was fired after she was accused of shoplifting from Walmart.

According to documents from Jacksonville Beach Police’s internal investigation, civilian crime analyst Jenise Bailey reportedly tried to steal $87 worth of toys and clothes in a self-checkout lane.

Surveillance video from an Englewood Walmart on Philips Highway reportedly shows Bailey bundling clothes together in a stack and only scanning the top item’s tag.

The video then allegedly shows her go through the motions of scanning toys, but not really scanning them.

“For some reason, we get a lot of that at all Walmarts,” said Walmart employee Derron Reid. “I don’t want to judge too harshly because you never know what’s going on in somebody’s family. But then, at the same time, a crime is a crime, regardless.”

Bailey was accused of trying to steal the clothes and toys days before Christmas.

She was fired last month.

Jacksonville Beach police’s internal investigators’ notes say when asset protection agents stopped Bailey, “she stated she was in a hurry and realized, after being stopped, that she might have missed some items, again alluding to it being an honest mistake.”

Walmart shopper Yvette Mahmoudi said firing Bailey was the right thing to do.

“Because it sets a precedent to let them know that they’re not above the law,” said Mahmoudi. “It all boils down to trust.”

Action News Jax called and texted Bailey, called her union and went to her home to try to get her side of the story. We have not heard back.

In Duval County court, she pleaded no contest, adjudication was withheld, and the judge placed her on probation for three months.

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