Detective Fired, Accused of Stealing Toilet Paper

July 28, 2006, 6:11PM
Dallas detective fired, accused of stealing toilet paper


Associated Press

DALLAS ?- The Dallas Police Department has fired a detective accused of stealing $8.40 worth of toilet paper and paper towels from her patrol station, but the officer says her dismissal is related to a harassment complaint she filed against a colleague.

Senior Cpl. Stacey Wychopen, a 12-year veteran who investigated property crimes, was fired Thursday after investigators concluded she stole toilet paper and paper towel rolls three times last fall.

Four officers told investigators they saw Wychopen in the parking lot with bags or arms full of paper goods.

Wychopen told her supervisors she used toilet paper and paper towels once to clean up a spill in her city vehicle. She said the other two incidents didn't occur.

A telephone listing for Wychopen could not be found Friday.

In her internal affairs statement, she said she would never jeopardize her career over cheap paper goods. She accused her co-workers of colluding to lie about her because she filed a complaint against another officer.

In his statement to investigators, Senior Cpl. Roger Garcia said that wasn't the case.

"We saw what we saw," he said.

A Dallas police spokesman did not immediately return a telephone call from The Associated Press seeking comment on Wychopen's dismissal and the nature of her harassment complaint.