Peoria sergeant accused of stealing from local police organization
Feb 19, 2019, 4:01 PM | Updated: 4:27 pm
(Facebook/Peoria Police AZ)
(Facebook/Peoria Police AZ)
PHOENIX — A sergeant with the Peoria Police Department was indicted this month for allegedly making unauthorized purchases on behalf of a local police organization over a six-year period.
Jon Paul Meck, according to court documents, “knowingly converted for an unauthorized term or use services or property of the Arizona Tactical Officers Association” between Feb. 1, 2012, and July 31, 2018.
During that same period, he allegedly “knowingly obtained a benefit by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representation, promises or material omissions.”
Meck served as treasurer for the Arizona Tactical Officers Association between September 2009 and August 2018. He was indicted on one fraud charge and four theft charges in Maricopa County Superior Court on Feb. 13.
The association is a “nonprofit organization comprised of members from police agencies throughout the state of Arizona and designed to provide those members with tactical training,” according to the attorney general’s office.
The grand jury also claimed Meck “knowingly obtained services or property of the Peoria Police Department…with the intent to deprive the (department) of such property or services” between May 9, 2016, and June 16, 2016; June 28, 2016, and July 11, 2016; and July 1, 2016, and July 12, 2016.
According to ABC15, Meck resigned from his position at the end of July 2018. Shortly after, the association noticed “discrepancies and unauthorized use of association funds” among finances.
Meck is on leave with the department, according to the attorney general’s office.
The Peoria Police Department issued a statement Tuesday, saying it has opened an internal investigation:
The Peoria Police Department was recently notified that Sergeant Jon Meck has been indicted by a State Grand Jury on charges for fraudulent schemes and artifices and theft from the Arizona Tactical Officers Association (ATOA). Now that Meck has been indicted, a separate internal investigation has started.
Meck has been on administrative leave since August 3, 2018 after the allegations of theft and fraud were brought forward to our agency. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office is conducting an investigation into this matter and Meck was indicted on February 13, 2019.
Meck will continue to be on administrative leave until the completion of the internal investigation. We hold all members of our department to the highest standards and thoroughly investigate all incidents of alleged misconduct.
The department said it is unable to provide any further information due to the ongoing investigation.
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