A veteran Plainfield police officer was charged today with one count of third-degree theft after he allegedly stole several thousand dollars from the local Policeman's Benevolent Association, Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow said.
Richard D. Brown, Jr., 52, served as an officer for the local PBA for 25 years, the last year as treasurer. An investigation revealed that between June 11, 2008 and Nov. 12, 2008 Brown wrote checks to himself from the PBA account and "treated the funds as his own," said Romankow.
During an audit last month other members of the PBA noticed financial discrepancies and reported their findings to the prosecutor's office.
Brown has been suspended from the department and is scheduled to make his first appearance before Union County Superior Court Judge Joan Robinson Gross on Dec. 12.
"It's sad when greed outweighs the badge," said Assistant Union County Prosecutor William Kolano. Brown allegedly stole $4,000 to $6,000 from the PBA fund, Kolano said.
1 comment:
"What Happened to Protect and Serve?"
Let me ask you ... what happend to INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY?
A person being "charged" with a crime is nothing more than legal terminology for him being officially ACCUSED of said crime.
An investigation must take place. If there are grounds to go further it will go before Grand Jury. If the Grand Jury believes there are grounds to go further it will hand downn an indictment, which is a higher level of an "official ACCUSATION." At that point there will be a trial.
None of these things "officially" establish guilt. It is up to the prosecution to prove Det. Brown's guilt; not for Det. Brown to have to prove his innocence.
Contrary to how this country has been run for the past eight years ... this is still America.
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