For years, he fought to clear his name. His family spent everything—savings, retirement, college funds. He lost his job. His pension was frozen. He was suspended without pay while also struggling with service-connected disabilities from his time in the military.
And then, finally, in 2022, the state case collapsed.
On the eve of trial, new exculpatory evidence came to light. DA Kevin Hayden, who had replaced Rollins, publicly stated that Sgt. Finnerty was not the source of the false information in question.
Hayden dismissed the charges completely.
Sgt. Finnerty had been telling the truth all along.
But the nightmare didn’t end.
Despite the state dropping all charges…
Despite the DA’s admission that the case couldn’t be proven…
Despite a full four-year ordeal of court battles, public humiliation, and financial ruin…
The Biden Department of Justice swooped in and re-indicted him in federal court.
Same core allegations. Different venue. Bigger hammer.
Why? Because Rollins—before resigning in disgrace for election interference and potential Hatch Act violations—had allegedly tried to influence the local DA’s race, even while overseeing investigations into officers at TPD.
Rollins had an agenda. And Sgt. Finnerty—who told the truth and stood in the way—became her political target.
The DOJ picked up where she left off.
Now, Sgt. Finnerty has been convicted. And he’s staring down the possibility of years behind bars.
This is a disgrace.
But we are not giving up.
The National Center for Police Defense is working with Sgt. Finnerty to launch a full federal appeal. We are committed to fighting for his freedom and restoring his name—but federal court is expensive, and his family has nothing left to give.
