Bradenton Code Enforcement Officer Sentenced for Accepting Bribe

A City of Bradenton code enforcement officer has been sentenced after admitting to taking a $300 bribe in exchange for dismissing a violation, according to the Bradenton Police Department.

The case began in December 2023 when the City of Bradenton received a report regarding a paved-over water meter. The case was assigned to Harold Agurs, who was responsible for code enforcement in that area. Records indicate that Agurs issued a stop work order, citing a lack of a proper permit.

Days later, the individuals involved contacted city officials, reporting that Agurs had offered to “make the issue go away” in exchange for $300. He reportedly arranged to meet them for the payment, but the individuals declined. However, GPS data from Agurs' work vehicle placed him at the planned meeting location.

Upon learning of the allegations, the City of Bradenton alerted the Bradenton Police Department. An undercover detective arranged a meeting with Agurs and handed him the money. Agurs accepted the payment and assured the officer that he would remove the violation from the city’s system the following day.

Immediately after the transaction, Agurs was stopped and arrested. During questioning, he admitted to knowingly accepting the bribe, citing financial struggles as his motivation. He also admitted to fabricating the permit requirement to pressure the individuals into paying him.

Agurs was sentenced to 30 days in jail with credit for time served, followed by 18 months of probation and 50 hours of public service. Additionally, a no-contact order was issued to prevent any further interaction between Agurs and the individuals involved.