Gary Indiana cop charged with stealing nearly $500 from Walmart
Hammond IN Oct 21 2017 A Gary police officer has been charged with theft after Hammond police said he used a self-serve checkout repeatedly at a store where he was working security to improperly receive nearly $500 in change during numerous transactions, according to court documents.
George Edward Dickerson III, 42, was charged in Lake Superior Court with misdemeanor theft. His defense attorney, Jamise Perkins, said Thursday that Dickerson’s resigned from the Gary Police Department.
Assistant Gary City Attorney Rodney Pol Jr., said the city’s Civil Service Commission will meet Nov. 2 on the disciplinary matter. Dickerson’s resignation wasn’t formally accepted at the hearing last week, he said.
Court records indicate Dickerson was working security March 4 at Walmart in Hammond. A store employee had accidentally put the wrong denominations of cash into the money slots at a self-checkout register at the store, documents state.
At 8:12 a.m. that day, Dickerson allegedly went to a self-checkout register and purchased cheese and a drink, which totaled $4.48. He inserted a $20 bill and 48 cents, and instead of receiving $16 in change, Dickerson received $45, according to probable cause affidavit. Dickerson then purchased Doritos at the same register, inserted $20 and instead of receiving $18.52 in change, he received another $45, records stated. A minute later, Dickerson purchased a candy bar for $1.22 at the same register and received $45 in change after inserting another $20, according to records.
In a little more than an hour, Dickerson allegedly made 11 purchases and received a total of $495 in change to which he was not entitled, court records state.
Each of the transactions was captured on video surveillance and an asset protection manager obtained receipts for each of them, records state.
The charge, which is punishable by up to one year in jail, was filed Sept. 28 in the county division. A summons was sent Oct. 10 to Dickerson’s home in Merrillville. Dickerson’s initial hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 20 before Judge Sheila Moss. Perkins said her client will plead not guilty.
Dickerson, who had been a Gary police officer for about 8 1/2 years, had been assigned to the Lake County/Gary Metro Homicide Unit, officials said.
Chicago Tribune
