“The gentleman who took over the treasury is the one who first noticed it and brought it to my attention,” said Ghee Wilson, president of the organization. “It’s disappointing.”
Wilson told Channel 2’s Erica Byfield the Fraternal Order of Police planned to use the money for needy children.
“Our biggest fundraiser that we do is for the Christmas with Santa Cops Program,” he said. The program partners needy children with police officers who take the children shopping for Christmas presents.
“We would like for everyone to know this is an isolated incident and we are doing everything in our power to make sure things like this don’t happen again,” said Wilson.
Wagner worked for the Rome Police Department for more than 20 years. Police charged him with three counts of theft by taking and one count of violating an oath of office.
Wilson said Wagner has since repaid the money but there was overwhelming support from other members to seek charges.
“Law enforcement as a whole is not going to stand for things like that to happen,” said Wilson.
Wagner bonded out of jail on Sunday. Byfield tried to reach him for comment but she reported he went inside his home and locked the door when she arrived.
