Cop Admits To Stealing From Addison Police Association

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ADDISON (CBSDFW.COM) - James Easterling resigned from the Addison Police Department last week after spending 20 years with the force. But he now faces a Texas Rangers investigation after confessing to Chief Paul Spencer that he embezzled money from the Addison Police Association.

The nonprofit organization is run by and meant for Addison police officers. Department spokesman David Margulies stressed that no public funds were taken. "This money belongs to the officers who are members of the association," he said. "There are no tax dollars involved."

"A former officer of our organization failed to fulfill his position of trust by diverting funds contributed by Addison officers for his personal use," the association explained in a statement. "This individual is no longer a member of the Addison police force and his actions are currently under investigation."

Easterling served as the Addison Police Association's president in 2000, and was the organization's treasurer until December. He had been honored by the city for his 20 years of service this past November.

The Addison Police Association is now under new leadership. Police officials believe that he confessed of his own free will and resigned upon realizing that he would soon be caught. "They were going over the books, so there was a chance that he felt that, because there were a new group of people reviewing the books, that this was going to come out," Margulies said.

It is not known how much money was taken, but Easterling is said to have been involved in the crime for several years.

"Our department is aware of this issue and has asked an outside law enforcement agency to conduct a criminal investigation," said the Addison Police Department in a statement. "The investigation will determine the criminal charges that will be filed in the case."