The Sacramento Police Department (SPD) has arrested 60-year-old Ronald Olsen, a former civilian employee of the City of Sacramento for 33 years.

In June of this year an employee of the Sacramento Police Department’s Evidence and Property Section became suspicious as to the whereabouts of a missing piece of property that was scheduled for disposal.  This information was forwarded to the Internal Affairs Division and an administrative investigation was initiated.  Investigators quickly determined that due to the severity of the allegations, a separate criminal investigation would also be launched.
 
Olsen, a Program Analyst assigned to SPD’s Evidence and Property Section for the last two years, was placed on administrative leave shortly after both investigations began. The investigation revealed that Olsen had stolen approximately three dozen unclaimed items marked or identified for disposal, from the Property warehouse.
 
None of the items, at the time they were taken, were identified as having evidentiary value or were connected to a criminal investigation.
 
The items stolen by Olsen included electronics, hand tools, and musical instruments, and did not include weapons, drugs, or contraband.  Some of the stolen items were recovered during the investigation.
 
Olsen resigned on August 7, 2015, during the course of this investigation.  He was taken into custody today, September 11, 2015, on charges of grand theft and possession of stolen property.  SPD detectives are working closely with the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, which will ultimately determine the charges to be filed, pending their review.

The Sacramento Police Department holds all of its employees to the highest ethical and moral standards.  This was an isolated incident and is not reflective of the outstanding work accomplished everyday by the dedicated men and women of the City of Sacramento.