News

Police charge former patrolman with embezzlement

By Patrick Anderson
Staff writer
Published: March 7, 2008

ESSEX — Police have charged one of their former officers with taking equipment from the Essex department during his time on the force — and never returning it.

Edwin Fournier, 45, of 44 Lexington Drive, Hampstead, N.H., was charged late Wednesday with municipal embezzlement — a felony — for taking what police called "a significant" amount of goods and supplies after resigning from his post as a part-time reserve officer in July 2007.

Fournier is a reserve officer in Groveland and Marblehead, according to department rosters and a Groveland department worker.

Essex police Chief Peter Silva yesterday declined to list exactly what Fournier had taken from the department, but said it did not include any guns. He said a dollar value for the equipment was still being calculated, and he could not provide an estimate.

Silva said a conviction for municipal embezzlement could carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. He said a hearing for Fournier would happen in Gloucester District Court but had not yet been scheduled.

Photos

None/File photo

Edwin Fournier, left, when he was sworn in as a Groveland reserve police officer in April 2004 with Officer Eric Ryan.