A veteran LAPD officer plunged from planes in death-defying skydives while pocketing full tax-free paychecks for a supposedly crippling elbow injury—what happens when those sworn to protect start preying on the public purse?
Story Snapshot
- Christopher Brandon Carnahan, 43-year LAPD veteran, charged with felony insurance fraud for skydiving and gym workouts during disability leave.
- Claimed May 22, 2023 elbow injury qualified him for Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits: 100% tax-free base salary.
- Evidence captured skydives at Skydive Elsinore and dumbbell exercises from 2023-2025, contradicting total disability claims.
- Arrested February 26, 2026 on $100,000 bail; faces up to six years in jail if convicted.
- Part of rising California first responder fraud pattern, eroding taxpayer trust and institutional integrity.
Carnahan’s Injury Claim and TTD Benefits
Christopher Brandon Carnahan reported injuring his left elbow on duty May 22, 2023. LAPD placed him on Temporary Total Disability status. This provided 100% of his base salary tax-free for up to one year, then two-thirds thereafter. Carnahan filed workers’ compensation claims in 2023 and 2025. These benefits, funded by California taxpayers, demand proof of inability to work due to injury. Investigators later uncovered activities shattering this narrative.
Undeniable Evidence of Fraudulent Activity
Photographs from May 23, 2024 show Carnahan lifting dumbbells at a fitness center. Surveillance confirmed multiple skydives at Skydive Elsinore in Lake Elsinore across 2023-2025. Skydiving demands peak physical condition: gripping straps, enduring freefall forces, landing impacts—all incompatible with a totally disabling elbow injury. LAPD’s Special Operations Division Major Complaint Unit gathered this proof, collaborating with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Healthcare Fraud Division.
Arrest, Charges, and Official Response
Prosecutors charged Carnahan with two felony insurance fraud counts February 24, 2026. Authorities arrested him two days later, booking him into jail on $100,000 bail. District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman declared the case centers on honesty and accountability. He stressed Carnahan, as a law enforcement officer, knows the law and sworn standards. LAPD affirmed commitment to probing fraud, safeguarding resources, upholding integrity. Arraignment awaits scheduling.
Pattern of First Responder Fraud in California
Carnahan joins a wave of accused fraudsters. December 2025 saw a California Highway Patrol officer jailed 270 days for faking injury to claim retirement. May 2025 charges hit a former Westminster police officer with 15 felonies for skiing, Disneyland trips, and festival partying on disability. August 2025 brought four felonies against an L.A. County Fire captain for forged notes and fake injury claims. These cases expose oversight gaps in verification and monitoring.
Consequences for Stakeholders and Taxpayers
Taxpayers foot TTD bills meant for genuine injuries, fueling conservative calls for stricter audits and personal responsibility. LAPD faces credibility hits despite self-policing. Legitimate claimants risk heightened skepticism. Conviction could terminate Carnahan’s career, deter copycats, spur policy reforms like better surveillance. Power tilts heavily: prosecutorial might versus one officer’s defense. Public trust in badge-wearers hangs in balance amid systemic vulnerabilities.
