Anaheim police captain speaks out about chief's fraud investigation

ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) -- In an exclusive interview with Eyewitness News, an Anaheim police captain is speaking out about his decision to send a memo to City Hall, accusing the police chief and his deputy of financial wrongdoing.

Anaheim Police Capt. Jarret Young said two of his superior officers committed fraud and public theft of funds.

"I'm a police officer. We're all police officers. It just wasn't the right thing to do," he said.

The memo alleges Chief Raul Quezada and Deputy Chief Dan Cahill have been taking paid days off work and not accounting for them.

On Wednesday, Young was crying foul about the city's review of the matter.

"An investigation that is transparent to the extent it can be, and fair and impartial and that's not what's occurring here. It's alarming," Young added.

Young said if true, the chief may have been paid more than $24,000 for days he didn't work. The deputy chief? More than $38,000.

Young shares the concern of the Anaheim Police Officers Association about why the men have not been placed on administrative leave.

"You cannot have law enforcement officers working that you question whether they're honest or if they have integrity," Young said.

An Anaheim spokesperson said it was City Manager Paul Emery's decision not to put them on leave.

Eyewitness News reached out directly to Emery several times, and he did not respond nor did he speak to us when we went to his office at City Hall.

Instead, a spokesperson sent a statement, which read:

"Our goal is to establish facts before making any determination. We have every confidence that the law firm enlisted has the expertise to do a fair, impartial and thorough review."

The Orange County District Attorney is also reviewing the allegations.

Emery's decision has caused Young to question the investigation of a past complaint against the chief, and he's calling for the county's office of independent review to take a look.

He also believes there's a conflict of interest with the law firm because it works frequently with the police department and the chief.

"How could somebody that's a personal friend - that you have dinner with, long business relations with - how could they be fair and impartial?" Young added.

A police spokesperson said the chief and the deputy chief are unable to comment during the investigation.