Wauwatosa Police Detective Robin Schumacher has been charge with two felonies and a misdemeanor in accusations that she stole drugs from an evidence area, according to Wisconsin Criminal Court records.
Schumacher, 38, was arrested last Tuesday and was charged Monday with misconduct in office/acting in excess of her authority, a Class I felony; possession of narcotic drugs, also a Class I felony; and theft of movable property worth less than $2,500, a Class A misdemeanor.
The felony charges carry sentences of up to three years and six months in prison. The misdemeanor count is punishable by up nine months in jail.
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The charging was also confirmed in a statement from Police Chief Barry Weber, who wrote that no evidence in any open criminal investigation was lost in the thefts, as the missing drugs were slated to be destroyed.
The missing contraband was noticed and reported by a Wauwatosa police property clerk, Weber said.
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According to the criminal complaint, Tosa police set up video surveillance in the evidence room. On July 16, they saw Schumacher enter the evidence room holding several plastic grocery bags. Schumacher was then caught on video removing items from the bags at her desk, the criminal complaint said.
Wauwatosa police made the arrest but were aided in the investigation by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.
Here is Weber's full statement for the record:
A statement from Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber:
"On Tuesday, July 16, 2013, Detective Robin Schumacher of the Wauwatosa Police Department was placed under arrest at the police headquarters building. She was arrested by officers from the Wauwatosa Police Department. She has been placed on administrative leave. I will be requesting the termination of her employment before the Police & Fire Commission.
"Schumacher was arrested as a result of an internal investigation, pertaining to drugs and narcotics that were removed from the department’s property room. The items removed were from cases that had already been adjudicated. There were not any breaches of evidence that have been tampered with. The property removed was all in containers to be destroyed.
"Investigators determined that Schumacher improperly and without authorization entered the property room and removed an assortment of drugs and narcotics. The discrepancies were discovered by a property clerk who was legitimately removing property to be destroyed.
"When the information was brought to the attention of the administration, an immediate internal investigation was begun. Prior to Schumacher’s arrest, the department consulted with the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office. Investigators from the district attorney’s office assisted Wauwatosa Police with the investigation
"The items that are missing were slated to be destroyed. No active cases are affected. We are in the process of conducting a total inventory of all items in the property room. Although I don’t believe there are any other cases affected, I want to be positively assured that is a true and correct fact.
"The members of the Wauwatosa Police Department do not accept inappropriate behavior or illegal conduct by its members. When the discrepancy was brought to our attention by our own employees, it was immediately investigated, and a person was arrested and has subsequently been charged.
"The department appreciates the confidence and trust by members of the Wauwatosa community."
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