Officer Joey Meadows is Charged

[WaTcHeR]

11.03.2006 - ALPHARETTA, Ga. - State investigators have charged an Alpharetta police officer and his wife with felony theft -- saying they have determined the two stole money from a youth program the officer managed.

Alpharetta Police Officer Wes McCall says Officer Joey Meadows and his wife, Teena Meadows, are expected to surrender today.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has charged Meadows with one count of violating his oath of office and one count of aggravated theft by conversion -- both felonies. A statement issued by the city says Meadows has resigned from the department.

Tenna Meadows -- an administrative assistant in the city's Fire Department -- is charged with one felony count of theft by taking. She has been fired.

McCall says a G-B-I investigation requested by the city confirmed suspiciouss of improper credit card transactions discovered in a routine audit of the Police Athletic League Fund.

The fund is a youth sports program designed to help at-risk youth and keep them from becoming involved in criminal activity. The program serves about 400 children a year.

Meados has managed the program since it was formed in 1995.

www.wtvm.com/Global/story.asp?S=5629041&nav=8fap

[politicsnotjustice]

This is incredible. I certainly do not know all the details but everything I have heard/seen is based on an over zealous public safety commissoner who enjoys visibility and politics more than the particular facts surrounding this situation.

Officer Meadows developed and ran the Alpharetta PAL for many years. He has given his heart and soul to the Alpharetta Police force and the kids in which PAL assisted. I wished they would have spoken with PAL kids or many of the High School students that he gave the opportunity for summer employment working with the kids about what they thought of this fine man. I know my daughter got a blessing working with the many under-privledged children. She commented often how her perception of what Officer Meadows and PAL provided for the community changed her opinion of Police Officers. She said she no longer viewed them as egotistical individuals looking for an excuse to get you, but as individuals which cared. After this however, I believe she is really confused.

I understand that Officer Meadows and his wife were charged with a felony because the "aggravated theft" charge was over $800. Supposedly, he had his wife's car serviced on his PAL credit card. Granted a stupid thing to do....but why was he not given the chance to pay off the discrepancies rather than charging him with a felony after 18 years of service?

Officer Meadows was interviewed around a year ago by a local TV station when Alpharetta was considering shutting down PAL. He made a few remarks in support of PAL that may have been viewed as negative to the local "politicos". My gut feeling is this is why charging him rather than allowing him to settle the dispute and either resigning or continuing on. The new Public Safety Director in Alpharetta had just come on board around this time and his"New Sheriff in Town" attitude and love of the camera obviously played a role.

I have spoken with some kids who worked with Officer Meadows and PAL during the summers. They have ALL told me they would have, and felt even the kids attending PAL would have jumped at the chance to repay Alpharetta rather than smear the reputation of such a fine man as Officer Meadows.

There may be more to all this than I am aware of, but to date I have not heard anyone who is knowledgable of any additional details surrounding this case.

From this tax paying citizen of North Fulton Co., that has known Officer Meadows for several years I would like to tell him Thanks for all he has done for the community on behalf of the Alpharetta Police force. I wish there were more fine men like you out there watching over us.