A Pensacola police officer faces felony charges for allegedly failing to disclose his HIV-positive status to a woman he impregnated, a fellow department employee. The officer reportedly assured her that she and the baby could not contract the virus. He has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
Pierce Cotton, an officer with the Pensacola Police Department, began dating a female colleague in October 2025, according to an arrest report. At the time, Cotton was living with another woman with whom he shares a child, though he described the arrangement as temporary and non-romantic to his new partner, who became pregnant by him later that month or shortly after. The prior partner discovered medication in Cotton's belongings and contacted the pregnant woman, expressing concern for her and the unborn child's health without initially specifying the reason, urging her to get tested. The woman confronted Cotton, who admitted to being 'sick' but claimed, 'It's under control, and that's been proven. You can't contract it.' When pressed on the nature of his illness, Cotton replied, 'I'll preface it with this then: I can't transmit it. You don't have it, since you've already been tested for it. … I made sure I was safe so as to keep you from getting it. You and the baby can't get it from me.' After this exchange, the woman reported the matter to police. Investigators obtained Cotton's medical records, revealing a positive HIV test result dated July 15, 2025, from a blood sample collected on July 11, 2025—prior to the start of their relationship. The Pensacola Police Department charged Cotton with felony nondisclosure of HIV status and placed him on administrative leave, with an internal affairs probe underway. Cotton was released on $10,000 bond and is scheduled for arraignment in April.
