Former California Police Chief accused of forging timesheets to get other officer paid medical leave

UPDATE: Mayor Norris Gerhart said he first noticed a questionable charge from the police department at the beginning of May when he was going through payables before a city council meeting.

“He’s [the police chief] no different from any other manager or superintendent,” said Gerhart. “They are all responsible for their payables. They just get checked and rechecked and if we have questions, we ask them prior to the council meeting so I’m prepared to answer anything necessary.”

He and the former chief talked about the suspicious charge in the morning, and by the afternoon, Ward had turned in a letter of resignation, effective at the end of May. Gerhart said they had a discussion and both agreed to make it immediate.

“It definitely opens your eyes that you need to keep your eyes open all the time because sometimes little thing can creep through the cracks,” he said.

Gerhart said he’s disappointed in the situation the city finds itself in, but he’s appointed an interim chief and said the city is still operating normally.

“I just want the people of our city and the county to know that the city police department is running good and things are going well,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that we’re dealing with the situation we’re dealing with but it’s not the worst situation we might have to deal with.”

Gerhart said he wasn’t at liberty to elaborate since the investigation is still ongoing.

ORIGINAL STORY: A former California police chief has been charged with forgery and stealing after forging time sheets so that another officer, a woman he was in a relationship with, could take paid medical leave when she did not have time accrued. The former police chief also purchased weapons and weapon sights with California Police Department funds and pawned off two California Police Department guns for money.

According to the probable cause statement, on Sept. 19, 2016, and August 23, 2017, Michael Ward bought an EOTech holographic weapon sight with California Police Department funds.

In July of 2017, Audrey Laczko, the woman he was in a relationship with, went on medical leave. Laczko did not have enough medical leave, so Ward offered to donate his accrued time so she could get paid during her medical leave. Ward forged timesheets for Laczko instead, saying she was working.

On Aug. 23, 2017, Ward bought a Colt AR 15 rifle with California Police Department funds.

On Jan. 5, 2108, Ward sold a Glock 22 and a Colt AR 15 to River City Pawn and Gun that belonged to the California Police Department. He told another officer that the guns were his and that he was selling them to buy a fence for Laczko.

On May 4, 2018, Interim Police Chief Dale Embry was taking an inventory of the police department’s equipment and found that a Glock 22, a Colt AR 15 and two EOTech holographic sights were missing.

On May 15, 2018, Ward sold a AR 15 with an EOTech holographic sight to an officer’s uncle.

When asked about the medical leave, Laczko said Ward offered to donate his accrued time and that she didn’t fill out any timesheets. Ward had also given her a ballistic vest and work boots after she stopped working at the California Police Department because “no one else at the department would fit into them.”

According to a probable cause statement, Ward was charged with one count of felony forgery and one count of felony stealing a firearm/explosive weapon/ammonium nitrate. Ward was also charged with misdemeanor stealing.

The California Police Department posted the following on Facebook after Ward’s resignation:

“This article appears in the May 16th, 2018 issue of the California Democrat. The article written and photo taken by staff journalist David Wilson.

Capt. Dale Embry, of the California Police Department, has been appointed as interim police chief. This appointment followed the resignation of Chief Mike Ward.

Embry was appointed by Mayor Norris Gerhart May 3, following the effective time of the resignation, and approved by the City Council at its regular monthly board meeting May 7.

He will serve until a new police chief is selected. The council plans to advertise the position for 30 days, to determine what candidates will be interviewed. According to Gerhart, Ward submitted his resignation May 2, to be effective May 3, with no reason given.

Embry commented the resignation happened quickly, meaning there is a very limited transition period. He has always been a road officer, and the interim chief appointment means he will now run the department in everyday operations.

“That includes making sure the schedules are filled and routine calls are taken care of,” he said.

“The job is essentially the same, except for administrative work, such as the budget,” he said. Even so, “There is a lot going on.”

Embry said he appreciates the strong support of the city council in this period of transition within the department. He said it is made easier by a good law enforcement and support staff.

In addition to Embry, there are five officers — Jeff Lewis, Tyler Hicks, Keith Strutton, Rafael Ayala and Daniel Hurt. Kathy Roll is the police clerk. There are six police vehicles.

The department has no reserve officers.

According to Embry, that is at least in part because of the changes in the Police Officers Standard of Training regulatory program of the Missouri Department of Public Safety. It now requires 24 hours of training a year to remain qualified. Someone with a full-time job often is not able to devote the time to achieve the necessary training to remain qualified.”