Thousands of dollars have been paid to a Little Rock police officer
suspected of attempting to steal a computer. Nearly two months after being told to turn his badge in, Officer Bennie Dandy is still on the city payroll.
The internal affairs investigation on Dandy has made it all the way to the desk of Police Chief Stuart Thomas. FOX16 has also learned the Pulaski County prosecutor’s office is reviewing possible charges.
It’s what's happened
in surveillance video that has Officer Dandy in hot water. While responding to an early morning break-in in September at a Stroman's Rent to Own, cameras show Dandy trying to walk out of the building with a laptop in his hand.
"There would definitely be no reason for him to try and leave the building with a laptop in his hand, a boxed up brand new laptop," Stroman's GM Sean Funderburg told FOX16 News in September.
LRPD placed Dandy on paid administrative leave the same day. He didn't answer his door when we knocked on Wednesday but he told us right after the incident he couldn't talk until his investigation is over.
Eight weeks later he's still drawing a city paycheck; $6,280 and the taxpayer meter is still running.
"I can see where that would be a concern," Sgt. Cassandra Davis with the Little Rock Police Department said.
Little Rock Police say standard investigative time is 45 working days, or about nine weeks.
"Not only for this case but any case," Davis says. "An officer has to prove he's guilty or not guilty."
Stroman's said Wednesday they don't want to say anything on camera, but as of now, haven't heard from Little Rock Police on where the investigation into Officer Dandy stands.
Sergeant Davis says that should change soon but added that if Dandy is fired in the next week the nearly $7,000 he's been paid to stay home will be his to keep.
The investigation should wrap up next week unless there's an extension, which would stretch it out another 45 days.
