TEMPE, Ariz. — A former Tempe police officer has been arrested on multiple felony charges following an internal investigation that uncovered a scheme to fraudulently collect overtime pay, authorities said Thursday.
Demetrius Domonique Mitchell, who served with the Tempe Police Department for approximately four years, is accused of submitting false claims for nearly 300 hours of overtime that he allegedly did not work. The falsified requests resulted in $24,149.11 in unearned wages and benefits paid by the City of Tempe, according to police.
The fraudulent overtime was allegedly recorded over the course of 32 separate incidents spanning two years.
Tempe Police Chief Kenneth McCoy emphasized the department’s commitment to integrity and public trust in the wake of the arrest.
“Our officers are held to a higher standard. When there is sufficient evidence that an officer has violated the law and broken public trust, we will make an arrest and hold them accountable. This is about transparency, integrity, and maintaining the trust of those we serve,” McCoy said in a statement.
The investigation began when a Tempe Police supervisor noticed inconsistencies between the hours Mitchell claimed to have worked and actual documented activity. A detailed review followed, examining body camera footage, call sheets, activity logs, GPS tracking, phone records, and system login data covering the prior two years.
Authorities said that evidence did not support any legitimate work being performed during the overtime periods Mitchell logged.
Mitchell resigned from the department on July 8, just days before his arrest. He now faces felony charges including fraudulent schemes and theft.
The case has been referred for prosecution, and no additional details have been released at this time.
