Rob Ireland
ELKHORN — A former Bloomfield
and Genoa City police officer was arrested on April 16 after he was filmed
allegedly stealing cash from the Genoa City Police Department.
Aaron E. Henson, 36, was
arrested on charges of theft and misconduct in public office. Henson is a
five-year veteran of the village of Bloomfield Police Department, and he also
worked part time in the village of Genoa City.
Walworth County District
Attorney Daniel Necci said Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel has
accepted a request to be a special prosecutor on the case.
On April 29, Henson was formally
charged with felony misconduct in public office and misdemeanor theft. The
felony charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 3 1/2 years and a
$10,000 fine.
Necci said that future court
proceedings will occur in Walworth County. Henson was booked into the Walworth
County jail on March 16 at 6:49 p.m., and he was released on a signature bond
the next day at 2:25 p.m.
Henson was arrested after
police raided his home as part of the theft investigation.
According to online court
records, defense attorney Frank Lettenberger is representing Henson. On
Thursday morning, Lettenberger said he can't comment on the case at this time.
Betrayal
Genoa City Police Chief Joseph
Balog said he felt betrayed by the theft.
"When I briefed my
personnel, I would equate this to telling them that there was a death in the
department," Balog said on Thursday morning.
Balog also emphasized that he
acted quickly when he learned of the theft, and that Henson was not given
special treatment because he is a police officer.
"Even when someone in our
own department does something they are held accountable," Balog said. He
said acting quickly is necessary to ensure that the public can trust law
enforcement.
Balog said that the
investigation was turned over to the sheriff's department after he learned that
one of his officers became the subject of the investigation.
Walworth County Sheriff's Capt.
Dana Nigbor said the investigation was turned over to her department, but it
was nearly completed by the time she received it.
"We are not looking into
any other thefts," Nigbor said. "The chief assured me that all the
other bonds were accounted for."
When asked if Henson received
different treatment, Nigbor responded that he didn't.
"Absolutely not. He was
treated exactly the same," Nigbor said.
Fallout
Necci said his office is
reviewing the cases that Henson handled prior to his arrest.
"I don't know how big the
fallout will be, but there will be fallout," Necci said. "There will
be cases that have to be dismissed because of this. I don't know how many, but
I know that will happen."
Necci said Henson's arrest will
affect his credibility as a witness in some cases.
"Credibility is always at
issue with a witness. Despite the fact that he is an officer he is a
witness," Necci said. "If these (allegations) were allowed in at
trial, which I tend to think they would be, that would affect his credibility
greatly."
In the village of Bloomfield,
Henson recently arrested a man for fourth-offense drunken driving, and he
referred charges to the District Attorney's Office against the man for
attempting to bribe a public official.
In that case, Henson's report
included that the man he arrested offered him a $1,000 to let him go. Henson
reported that he declined the bribe. So far, the District Attorney's Office has
only filed the drunken driving charges against the man.
The defendant in that case is
represented by defense attorney Peter Wilson. On Thursday morning, Wilson said
he isn't sure what effect, if any, Henson's arrest will have on his client's
case.
"It would appear that the
two incidents are unrelated," he said. "It obviously goes to the
officer's character, but the officer's character is not an element of the
offense that my client is charged with."
Wilson added that Henson and
his client are both presumed innocent.
Investigation
According to the search warrant
affidavit, on April 7, Balog was contacted by his administrative assistant, who
reported to him that there was money missing from the bond box.
After the money went missing,
on April 11, the assistant photographed and recorded the serial numbers of $230
in cash, which she then placed into the bond box.
On April 14, the assistant
discovered that the $230 of pre-recorded cash and $1,728.30 in other bond
envelopes went missing.
Later that day, Balog
photographed and recorded the serial numbers to another $400 and installed a
video camera near the bond box.
The next day, the money went
missing. Balog reviewed the video surveillance footage and saw Henson use a fly
swatter to remove the bond envelopes from the locked bond box, according to the
affidavit.
"(Balog) observed Henson
remove the envelopes that contained the money and walk out of view of the
camera," the affidavit states.
A search warrant for Henson's
home was obtained and executed the next day. Balog has since turned the
investigation over to the Walworth County Sheriff's Department.
At his first court appearance,
Henson was ordered not to have any contact with the village of Genoa City
Police Department, the Genoa City Village Hall, the Bloomfield Village Hall or
any of the employees of either department.
According to online court
records, Henson is next scheduled to appear in court on May 1 at 1:15 p.m. in
front of Judge David Reddy.