By: Erika Wurst |
A former Aurora Police
Department detective was ordered to pay more than $9,000 in restitution and
perform community service on Tuesday after pleading guilty to stealing money
from an organization that represents police officers.
Joseph Accardi, 36, of
Naperville, a 15-year Aurora Police Department veteran, was convicted of
misdemeanor theft for taking $9,019 from the Association of Professional Police
Officers last year. Accardi resigned from the department on Feb. 16, and had
been on administrative leave since September 2013 following an investigation by
Illinois State Police into the theft.
Kane County State’s Attorney Joe
McMahon his office decided to charge Accardi with misdemeanor theft instead of
felony theft.
As part of Accardi’s plea deal,
he will be required to serve 200 hours of community service, be placed on one
year of conditional discharge, and participate in a theft awareness program. He
was also required to pay $500 in fines and court costs.
On Tuesday, Accardi also turned
over a check for $9,019 that he stole from APPO.
Prosecutors said the thefts
occurred from May 2010 through May 2013.
Aurora Police Chief Gregory
Thomas said he was disappointed in Accardi’s arrest.
“The accusations against Mr.
Accardi tarnish the honorable profession of law enforcement,” Thomas said.
“When a police officer is charged with breaking the laws that he or she has
taken a solemn oath to uphold and protect, it is a betrayal of the community’s
trust and something that cannot be tolerated.”
Thomas said that as soon as the
allegations surfaced, the matter was turned over to the Illinois State Police
to conduct an independent investigation. Sources said that more than 800 pages
of documents were compiled regarding Accardi’s case.
“The city appreciates the
thorough work of both the Illinois State Police and the Kane County State’s
Attorney’s Office to bring this unfortunate matter to a conclusion,” Thomas
said.
As a result of Accardi’s arrest
and conviction, at least five cases charged in Kane County have been dropped,
according to McMahon. Accardi was the lead detective on a felony financial
fraud and identity theft case where the suspects were accused of stealing more
than $100,000 from a victim.
McMahon said prosecutors are
looking at other cases to determine the role Accardi played as a detective.
“We are still reviewing files to
determine his level of involvement,” McMahon said when discussing Accardi’s
charges last week. “We have sent disclosure requirements to the defendants on
pending cases where Mr. Accardi is involved.”
DuPage and Kendall counties,
which include parts of Accardi’s Aurora jurisdiction, have also been notified of
Accardi’s arrest.
“Mr. Accardi was well known to
this office, and was someone who was held in high regard,” McMahon said. “These
allegations are disappointing.”
