Glendale Police Dept. recommends felony charges for retired officer

PHOENIX — The Glendale Police Department has concluded a criminal investigation into one of its former officers.

The department is recommending felony theft charges — a class 4 felony — against former police sergeant Wence Arevalo, according to a press release.

Arevalo has been accused of reckless falsification of timesheets since 2018, allegedly defrauding the department out of about $4,000. 

Spurred by an anonymous tip, the investigation discovered that Arevalo was simultaneously employed by the Glendale Police Department and two educational institutions — Louisiana State University and Arizona Christian University.

Records from LSU and ACU indicate that Arevalo had lied on his timecard, falsely claiming he was present for duty in Glendale.

The findings of the investigation were submitted by the Glendale Police Department to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in January. 

Arevalo retired from the Glendale Police Department in Dec. 2019 after serving for 24 years.

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