By
Steven Henshaw, Of The Reading Eagle
The
Reading police officer charged with stealing at least $16,500 seized from drug
suspects as evidence is likely to be fired.
Police
Chief William M. Heim on Thursday said he is moving forward with procedures to
dismiss Officer Jodi B. Royer, who was on paid medical leave when he turned
himself in on Wednesday.
"There
is a contractual procedure to be followed," Heim said in an email Thursday
– a day after recommending Royer be immediately suspended without pay from his
$63,918-a-year job. Authorities said Royer, 47, a former community police
bicycle officer who joined the force in 1990, came under suspicion in March
when his supervisor discovered cash missing from the evidence property room in
the basement of City Hall.
Investigators
said Royer stole the money to support his gambling habit.
Royer
was transferred to the evidence department in April 2011. The Berks County
District Attorney's audited the evidence and allege Royer tampered with
evidence in six cases, stealing $14,484 in four cases and returning $2,214 from
two other cases but with bills of the wrong denomination, including some that
were not in circulation at the time of the original case.
Royer
remains free awaiting further court action on charges of theft by unlawful taking,
receiving stolen property, tampering with evidence and unlawful use of a
computer and related