A former Westminster police officer, 39 year old Nicole Brown who lives in Riverside, has been charged with nine felony counts of making a fraudulent statement to obtain compensation, six felony counts of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim, and one felony enhancement of committing an aggravated while collar crime over $100,000. She faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in state prison if convicted on all counts.

Brown’s stepfather, 57 year old Peter Gregory Schuman who lives in Buena Park, has been charged with one felony count of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim and one felony count of assisting, abetting, conspiring with and soliciting a person in unlawful act. He faces a maximum sentence of eight years in state prison if convicted on all counts. As an attorney licensed by the State of California, he may also suffer discipline by the State Bar of California.

While out on Total Temporary Disability, Brown cost the city of Westminster more than $600,000, which included Brown’s full salary – tax-free – and her medical expenses.

During her time on TTD Brown’s ongoing complaints were headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and noise, problems processing thoughts and words, and an inability to work on the computer or do any screentime.

Despite her representations to doctors and the City of Westminster regarding her inability to work as a police officer due to her injury, on April 29, 2023, Brown was seen by several people who knew she was off work on total disability as she was dancing and drinking at the Stagecoach Music Festival, with more than 75,000 people in attendance with loud music and bright lights everywhere and temperatures in excess of 100 degrees.

In addition to facing the 15 felony charges, the City of Westminster has now filed a civil lawsuit against  the former police officer after the Westminster City Council voted unanimously to seek to recover all of the funds – over $600,000 – as well as hold the officer accountable for this breech of public trust. The City of Westminster filed the lawsuit on July 8, 2025, naming Nicole Brown of Riverside.

The lawsuit seeks repayment of all disability and medical payments, benefits, and other funds unlawfully obtained by Brown; and seeks to recover costs associated with investigation and prosecution of the lawsuit.

“This former police officer has betrayed the public trust. We owe it to our residents and to the honest, hard-working officers in our police department to seek to recover these funds,” said Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen. “Our residents count on us to protect their taxpayer dollars and ensure that employees who are actually injured receive the support they need to recover. Fraud will not be tolerated in Westminster.”