Federal authorities arrested Madison Police Department Officer Andrew Pullum Friday for theft of government property following an anticorruption probe and subsequent undercover operation.
The U.S. District Attorney charged Pullum, 31, with theft of government property, a total of $3,950 in cash. He is expected to appear in federal court later today.
If convicted, Pullum could face up to 10 years in prison.
MPD Chief Mike Koval, along with agents from the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Bureau and Federal Bureau of Investigation, at a news conference described the investigation, which lead to an undercover operation Thursday evening.
The FBI and ATF lead agents lauded MPD for quickly enlisting their aid when corruption allegations against Pullum first surfaced.
.@madisonpolice Chief Koval says at news conference a MPD officer was arrested today by federal authorities for theft of gov property
— Hayley ✨ (@hksperl) December 18, 2015
Koval said MPD received information from a citizen accusing Pullum of misconduct last August. Koval said he quickly reached out to the FBI, ATF and U.S. Attorney’s office to conduct an independent investigation.
Koval said through the course of the investigation it became clear that a definitive test of Pullums integrity was needed. To this end, agents devised a mock scenario wherein Pullum was presented with an opportunity to take money from a drug dealer’s stash.
An undercover agent lead Pullum to a bait car with the money in the trunk. He put the money in the back of his squad car, all while agents observed from a plane equipped with an infrared camera. He failed to enter the money into evidence before ending his shift.
Federal agents apprehended Pullum Friday afternoon.
Release on arrest of @madisonpolice Ofc Andrew Pullum. #news3 pic.twitter.com/N3bxW5de5Q
— Jessica Arp (@newsbyjessica) December 18, 2015
Koval said there was no indication Pullum acted in conjunction with other police officials.
“I’m angry because it paints not just Madison Police Department but all of law enforcement with the cloth of mistrust,” Koval said.
