Oakland Police Sergeant Defrauded Department Out Of $38K: Officials

OAKLAND, CA — An Oakland police sergeant faces charges after being accused of defrauding the department out of tens of thousands of dollars, according to authorities and a complaint filed in Alameda County court.

Authorities said on Friday that an Oakland Police Department employee was caught committing timesheet fraud after a routine internal audit.

"OPD referred its findings to the Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB) and the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) for independent review," the Oakland Police Department said in a statement on Friday. "The CID investigation revealed alleged grand theft and public official fraud totaling approximately $38,000."

Police didn't identify the employee, but court records obtained and published by Oaklandside identified the employee as Kevin Arias, a 21-year veteran of the department.

Arias was charged with grand theft of personal property on Friday, according to court filings.

The sergeant was placed on administrative leave, police said.

"We want our community to know this discovery resulted directly from our proactive oversight, not an outside complaint," police said.

The Oakland Police Department was already conducting frequent timesheet audits before this, authorities said.

To better prevent future misconduct, the department is collaborating with the city to implement improved technology, police said.

Arias earned more than $400,000 in total pay and benefits in 2024, the most recent data on Transparent California shows.