The president of the Hollister police union called former Sgt. Ray Wood’s expected six-month sentence for embezzlement “fair” and stressed the organization has addressed lacking oversight that allowed the thefts to occur.
Hollister Police Officers Association President David Anderson shared thoughts on the Wood case. At a Feb. 17 hearing, Wood, 54, pleaded no contest to the lone count against him, a felony grand theft charge. He is expected to receive a six-month jail sentence at an April 27 hearing, and Anderson understands that prosecutors are trying to get the restitution amount ordered at $102,000.
“We’re pleased with the outcome of this,” Anderson said. “It’s a felony conviction, and that is a big deal for a former police officer.”
Anderson said the union hopes to move forward and he called the situation an “embarrassment for all law enforcement.”
Part of the problem was that the police association did not require more than one signature for transactions.
“As an organization, the Hollister police association, we’ve changed the way we run business to make sure there’s more checks and balances,” Anderson said.
Wood’s conviction calls for a three-year prison term, but 30 months of the sentence will be suspended, meaning he is expected to serve six months behind bars. Wood will not be eligible for probation. He also will owe restitution to the victim – in this case, the police union – but the potential amount remains unclear.
