The former vice chairman of the D.C. Police Union was arrested Saturday on fraud charges after it was discovered that he worked a second job while on the clock for the Metropolitan Police Department.
Medgar Webster Sr., 52, of D.C. was arrested and charged with first-degree felony fraud for allegedly defrauding the District of Columbia government. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison or heavy fines.
A police spokesperson told the Washington Examiner that Webster is on “administrative leave and proposed for indefinite suspension.”
METRO EMPLOYEES CAUGHT BETWEEN VIOLENCE AND DUTY TO PUBLIC SAFETY AFTER WAVES OF SHOOTINGS
Webster worked on an hourly salary of $53.11 as an officer. That was adjusted to $79.67 for overtime work.
He received $33,845 from the police for hours when he was allegedly working at a Whole Foods Market, according to an arrest affidavit.
Webster allegedly worked at two Whole Foods locations between January 2021 and April 2022, earning $45,946 at the store on H Street SE in the Navy Yard neighborhood.
Police regulations allow officers to seek outside employment as long as it is authorized and does not “conflict or interfere” with the rules.
The Metropolitan Police Department allegedly never authorized Webster’s employment at Whole Foods. In fact, he reportedly worked 485 hours at Whole Foods at the same time he was reporting to be on police duty. Nearly half of those hours were submitted as overtime to receive additional funds, the affidavit said.
The spokesperson said agents discovered his employment at the Whole Foods during an “unrelated [internal affairs division] investigation.”
The unrelated investigation regarded a situation in which Webster allegedly engaged in “unwanted sexual contact” with a person at the same Whole Foods where he worked, according to a public incident report obtained by the Washington Examiner.
“MPD is aware of the allegation against our member and the matter is currently under investigation,” the police said in a statement released at the time of the allegations. “He has been placed in a non-contact status.”
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Police Union Chairman Greggory Pemberton told DCist that Webster resigned from his position as vice chairman to pursue retirement almost a year ago, but he did not comment further on either investigation.
A preliminary hearing for Webster’s fraud charges is set for late February.
