Rohnert Park Officer Accused Of Embezzlement From Police Union

ROHNERT PARK, CA — A Rohnert Park police officer turned himself in Monday to be booked on a felony charge related to his suspected embezzlement from his police union, the Rohnert Park Public Safety Officers Association, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said.

The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office had issued a warrant for the arrest of David Sittig-Wattson, 34, of Rohnert Park, according to Misti Wood, spokeswoman for the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

"The Rohnert Park Public Safety Officers Association previously requested the Sheriff’s Office start a financial crimes investigation related to their association," Wood said. "Property Crimes detectives conducted a thorough investigation and submitted it to the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office."

After reviewing the investigation, the District Attorney’s Office filed charges and issued a warrant for Sittig-Wattson's arrest.

The charges filed against Sittig-Wattson allege that he embezzled from the organization over a four-year period while he served as treasurer, Wood said.

Officer Sittig-Wattson turned himself in Monday afternoon for the booking process at Sonoma County Jail. He was booked on one felony count of grand theft by embezzlement and was released on $5,000 bail to appear in court at a later date, the sheriff's office said.

The amount Sittig-Wattson is accused of embezzling was not disclosed in a news release Monday from the sheriff's office.

Patch sent a request for comment to the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety about Sittig-Wattson's employment status; this story will be updated should we hear back.