Tuesday, Oct. 06, 2009

Former police chief charged with official misconduct, felony theft

VENICE -- A former police chief was charged with official misconduct and felony theft for selling city vehicles and pocketing the money, and stealing more than $20,000 from a club for Venice police officers, according to prosecutors.

Shawn J. Tyler, 36, who now resides in Harrisburg, was arrested Saturday in Saline County, and was transferred Monday to the Madison County Jail.

His bail is set at $50,000 by Associate Judge James Hackett.

Tyler was police chief for about four years. He left in May, the month after Mayor Tyrone Echols was elected.

In August, Echols asked the Madison County Sheriff's Office to look into whether Tyler had sold city vehicles without giving the city the money. Sheriff's Capt. Brad Wells said Tyler sold two emergency medical vehicles. The city had purchased the vehicles but never did use them.

"It's at least two vehicles. It's unknown if there are more," Wells said.

Detectives also determined that Tyler had taken money from the Venice Police Club.

"It was more than $20,000," Wells said.

The club is a fraternal organization for Venice Police officers. Historically, the chief of police serves as the club president.

Tyler is charged with two counts of theft over $10,000, two counts of aggravated vehicle theft and one count of official misconduct.

Wells said detectives are not aware of Tyler holding any employment as a police officer after his tenure in Venice.

The investigation is continuing.

"At this point, there's no one else charged," Wells said. "Unless the investigation would take a different turn, I don't know that anyone else would be charged, but we are still looking into this matter."

A grand jury issued the charges against Tyler on Sept. 24. Until Saturday, detectives had been trying to locate him.

Echols could not immediately be reached for comment.

Some Venice officials began complaining more than a year ago about vehicles being purchased for the Police Department but used by individuals, not for police purposes. One city official said there were more than 10 such vehicles. The City Council filed a court case over those allegations, and it is still pending. Wells said that issue is separate from the police investigation.