Yakima police captain on accused embezzler: 'It's a sad situation'
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- A long-time employee of the Yakima Police Department appeared in court Tuesday on charges she embezzled thousands of your taxpayer dollars.
Known simply as 'Fran' to most people, the former YPD employee was loved by everyone.
"It was a shock. It was like no way. No, not Fran," said Yakima Police Department Captain Rod Light. "Of anybody in this whole entire organization, she would be one of the last people that we would ever consider or think that would have engaged in this type of activity of behavior."
Frances Nettleton had sole responsibility of the taxpayer money in the home detention fund for the jail; money for electronic monitoring.
She's now accused of violating that responsibility.
Police say Nettleton admitted stealing more than $5,000 under the pressure of a looming department audit.
According to the police report, Nettleton told investigators she began stealing back in November of 2009. That's the same month her stepson, an off duty Las Vegas cop, was gunned down in his home.
KIMA sat down with Nettleton three years ago to discuss her stepson's death.
"It makes us feel like they're taking this seriously and they're trying to get these people off the street," Nettleton said of her step son's murder investigation.
To get all sides, KIMA tried to speak with her at her home and in court, but she would not talk about the trouble she's in now.
Action News asked, "YPD says she admitted to taking a little over $5,000. Could there be more taxpayer money that she has taken over time?"
"That's hard to say. We did an audit. The city did an audit on the accounts and as much as we can tell, we got to the bottom number," said Light.
It's certainly not the most serious case Yakima Police have ever worked, but in some ways it's one of the hardest.
"It's disheartening," said Light. "It's a sad situation and most of all, it's very troubling. Especially something happening with the confines of the police department like this."
Yakima plans to seek restitution to recover the money Nettleton is accused of stealing. She's expected to back in court next year.
It's sad because, although Captain Light represents the good side of Yakima PD, there is also a highly criminal one that I believe is presided over by the great, omnipotent Greg Copeland. From what I have seen, his operation is the most disgusting atrocity to ever befall law enforcement. This poor lady may have been in a position where she saw this activity and may have thought "everyone's doing it'"
As Trevor's mother, I must agree with Rob. Â I can't understand, nor do I approve of seeing my son's name linked in any way to this story of an alleged theft. Â It appears to be a sympathy excuse/motive. Â I believe that in addition to Las Vegas Metro Police Department, that Trevor's wife, The Injured Police Officer's Fund, The Police Protective Association and possibly other organizations I am not aware of paid for my son's funeral. Â
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I have appreciated all the positive comments and support from Valley residents and friends of Trev since we lost him. To see him linked to this story is very sad to me. Â
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Deb Austern
WOW! The most bizzare thing about this story is that the LVPD paid for Trevor's funeral. I also heard that Fran's sister in law paid for the expenses for travel to the funeral. So the "poor me" BS excuse about how she needed the money to get to her stepson's funeral is a sorry attempt at using his misfortune to garner sympathy for her dishonesty, greed and stupidity.  To top it all off, she admits the crime to her boss (law enforcement), and then pleads not guilty in court???? What is she going to use as a defense - she didn't get her Miranda rights before her admission?