By Joe Killian
The News & Record
GREENSBORO — A 20-year veteran Greensboro police officer was arrested Monday and charged with embezzlement from the city’s long-running Safety Town program.
Sgt. David Moore, who has coordinated the program for more than six years, was arrested at his Randolph County home by the SBI and Greensboro police detectives.
Moore, 45, is charged with embezzling more than $21,000 from the nonprofit and using it for himself.
“The investigation started in early August when some suspicions were brought to Internal Affairs by police officers,” said Capt. Gary Hastings of the department’s Criminal Investigation Division. “Suspicions centered on Moore early on because he was the one in charge of the account.”
Hastings said the ensuing investigation, handled by Greensboro police detectives, turned up purchases of consumer electronics such as Apple iPods and other high-dollar items. Hastings said it appears Moore, whose annual salary is $64,238, paid for the items through checks drawn on the account and a debit card connected to it.
Hastings said the embezzlement seems to stretch back to at least 2005 and could have begun earlier. It was only after Moore was reassigned and the account was handed to someone else that suspicions arose.
“It’s too early in the investigation to know whether this money is the extent of it or if others were involved,” Hastings said. “The investigation has centered on him to this point, but we are not ruling anything out.”
City Manager Mitch Johnson said he became aware of the investigation last week when he was briefed by police Chief Tim Bellamy.
“I know there has been an ongoing investigation, and they’re doing what they feel they need to do to take care of it,” Johnson said late Monday.
Police armed with a warrant searched Moore’s home and a number of items - including iPods and other consumer electronics believed to be purchased with the program’s money - were seized.
Moore was booked into the Guilford County Jail under $10,000 bond and was released Monday evening.
Safety Town teaches young children traffic and home safety.
The annual program attracts hundreds of children between the ages of 5 and 6.
The program does not use taxpayer dollars but depends on donations.
Johnson said Safety Town teaches kids trust in police officers.
“Two of my kids have gone through that program,” Johnson said. “It’s often kids’ first introduction to officers and a lot of important issues. It’s a shame to see something like this.”
Hastings said abuse of a non-profit program by police does strike at the integrity of the department - but that’s not all people should take from the arrest.
“It’s a very big integrity issue, but people should remember that honest police officers came forward with information on this,” Hastings said. “Honest police officers made this investigation and honest police officers arrested him.”
Copyright 2007 News & Record