Last Thursday, Ms. Beverly Harvin, a veteran Tampa Police Department employee, was arrested and charged with disclosing confidential information. She was released after posting a $2,000 bond.

A second employee, identified as Ms. Priscilla Phillips, 57, has also been implicated in the offense. Ms. Harvin and Ms. Phillips have both been suspected without pay, pending the outcome of disciplinary hearings. The discipline can range from suspension to termination.

According to police, Ms. Harvin, 47, was charged with criminal disclosure. She reportedly learned from another employee that her nephew was one of three suspects under investigation, and informed her nephew and his father of the details listed on an internal bulletin.

According to police, an internal Officer Safety Bulletin was issued on January 16th. The bulletin contained sensitive information about stolen guns that undercover officers had purchased. The three suspects, reportedly known to be heavily armed, were identified along with a vehicle.

On January 19th, police said Ms. Phillips, a data entry clerk, recognized one of the suspects as Ms. Harvin’s nephew. She reportedly took a photograph of the bulletin with her cell phone and forwarded it to Ms. Harvin. Ms. Harvin is alleged to have called her nephew and his father and disclosed the information in the bulletin.

Police said that act exposed the undercover officers to danger and put them at risk if they had attempted to buy additional shotguns and assault rifles from the suspects. The act also compromised the ongoing investigation because the department was forced to terminate that portion of it.

Both women were interviewed on Wednesday and both admitted to the offense. The Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office determined that Ms. Harvin should be charged. Ms. Phillips was not charged, police said.

Ms. Harvin was hired in February 1986 as a Community Service Officer. She was later promoted to an Investigative Assistant and worked in the District One.

Ms. Phillips was hired in December 1984 and had been assigned to the District One office as well.