Former Centreville Officer accused of pawning police firearms

JACKSON, Miss. (VDN) — A former Centreville police officer has been arrested for allegedly embezzling firearms from the department and selling them to a pawn shop, State Auditor Shad White announced Thursday.

Patrick Harris is accused of pawning his assigned service pistol, then later removing two additional semi-automatic pistols from the department’s evidence and property room and pawning those as well.

“We have zero tolerance for thievery of taxpayer dollars, big or small,” White said. “We will continue to work hand in hand with prosecutors to ensure your money is spent the way it should be.”

If convicted, the former Centreville police officer faces up to 20 years in prison and $5,000 in fines.

All individuals arrested by the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Suspected fraud can be reported to the State Auditor’s Office at www.osa.ms.gov by clicking the red reporting button or by calling 1-800-321-1275 during normal business hours.