ARIZONA NEWS
Former Phoenix police officer receives probation for time card fraud
PHOENIX — A former Phoenix police officer was sentenced to 18 months of probation on Wednesday for collecting full-time pay from another government agency while employed as a cop in the summer of 2020.
Carl R. Ramirez, 51, received the sentence as part of an agreement that he plead guilty to two felonies, including theft and attempted fraud schemes and practices.
He was also ordered to pay over $7,300 in restitution.
Ramirez started work for the Arizona Department of Economic Security as a full-time senior investigator in March 2020. While employed with the DES, he returned to work for the Phoenix Police Department in August 2020, Attorney General Mark Brnovich said in a press release.
After a review was completed of his time cards and payroll records, it was determined Ramirez collected full-time pay from both agencies while only completing full-time work for the police department, as his in-person shifts with the police department overlapped with his teleworking shifts for DES.
He surrendered his police officer certification as part of the sentencing and is no longer employed for DES.
Ramirez was indicted in June 2021 on theft, fraudulent schemes and computer tampering charges.
The Arizona Department of Economic Security investigated the case.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
