Delray Beach Officer Arrested for Stealing $1,500 – What Happened?

A Delray Beach police officer, Matthew Cusson, has been arrested and charged with grand theft after allegedly stealing $1,500 in investigative funds. The officer, who worked in the Vice Intelligence Unit, was taken into custody after a thorough internal investigation uncovered the missing funds. According to authorities, the missing money was noticed by a supervisor, which led to the discovery of the alleged theft.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is now handling the case, with the Delray Beach Police Department fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. In a statement, Delray Beach Police Chief Russ Mager emphasized the department’s commitment to transparency and accountability, stating that they take such matters seriously and would continue cooperating with the investigation.

Officer Placed on Administrative Leave

As part of standard procedure, Officer Cusson has been placed on administrative leave while both the criminal investigation and the internal review are ongoing. This step is taken to ensure that the integrity of the police force is upheld and to allow for an unbiased investigation into the allegations.

While the department works to get to the bottom of this case, Chief Mager has assured the public that they are committed to maintaining the community’s trust. “We will hold all officers to the highest ethical standards,” he stated in response to the arrest.

This arrest comes just a few years after another Delray Beach officer, Jacaria Stringer, was arrested for falsifying military leave records and stealing over $6,500 in unearned wages. While the two cases are unrelated, they have raised concerns about accountability within the Delray Beach Police Department.

The department is committed to ensuring that all officers adhere to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism. Chief Mager assured residents that this incident will not define the entire police force, as they continue to work on maintaining public trust.