Investigations

Calif. Chief Says She Borrowed Money From K-9 Fund to Buy a Horse

June 1, 2011

ORLAND In an email to the media Tuesday afternoon Orland Police Chief Paula Carr attempted to clear up rumors that she had been placed on paid administrative leave due to misappropriation of public funds.

"I found myself in a situation over the Glenn County Fair weekend where I needed to be at two places at one time," Carr wrote. "The Orland Police K-9 Booth was an important place to be in order to promote the program that we wanted to bring to the community and raise funds to support the program and get it up and running."

Carr explained that no one else was available to be in the booth Saturday, when a friend informed her that she had the winning bid on a horse that was up for auction.

"My bid was accepted and I needed to give the money for the horse to my friend to repay her. On Sunday, I was unable to get the cash needed from my account. I used $1,300.00 of the K-9 money to pay for the horse knowing that it would be replaced on Monday when I could get to my bank," she wrote. "On Monday I went to my bank, withdrew the monies to replenish the fund. The total amount was deposited into the Orland Police Department K-9 account."

In hindsight, Carr said she used very poor judgment.

"I had no intention to deprive the City of Orland, our police department or the K-9 unit of any funds."

She said she told an officer who was helping her with the K-9 fundraising what she had done.

"I apologize to the community, the members of the Orland City Council, the City Manager, and the members of the Orland Police Department, I truly regret my actions."

"I really can't say anything more about any allegations," said Orland City Manager Paul Poczobut Jr., who relieved Carr of her position Thursday afternoon.

Sgt. J.C. Tolle, an officer with 16 years on the Orland Police Department, has been named acting police chief.

Poczobut said an investigation is pending against Carr. He said budget cuts have precluded the most logical agency, the Glenn County District Attorney's Office, from conducting a probe.

He said the California Department of Justice has been contacted, along with district attorney offices in neighboring counties, but nothing has been decided.

Car could not be reached for further comment Tuesday.