CMPD police chief on officer's arrest: 'I am disappointed, saddened'

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By Glenn Counts

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department announced Tuesday afternoon that it has arrested one of its own.

Officer Jennifer Wolfe, 37, is charged with five counts of obtaining prescription painkillers by fraud. Police said she was taken into custody around 12:30 p.m.

“I am disappointed and saddened that one of our officers is being charged with this serious offense. The men and women of this organization are regular people, who face the same challenges as the rest of our community. Unfortunately, we are not immune from the growing opioid epidemic. We represent the law and must hold ourselves accountable when we violate it,” Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Chief Kerr Putney said.

(Jennifer Wolfe)

CMPD began an investigation Aug. 14, 2017, after the department was contacted by an employee at Danze Dentistry in Matthews.

"As soon as we were made aware of it she was immediately taken off the streets and placed on administrative leave," Charlotte-Mecklenburg deputy chief Johnny Jennings said.

Wolfe is now on unpaid leave due to her arrest on Tuesday.

Investigators said they found that Wolfe had obtained fraudulent prescriptions for painkillers from an employee at the dental practice.

"There is no reason to believe that there was anything other than personal use," Jennings said.

Matthews police arrested the dental practice employee, Roberta Porter. She is charged with seven counts of obtaining controlled substance by fraud/forgery and two counts of trafficking opium.

(Roberta Porter)

Police are still looking into the connection between Wolfe and Porter. They are also investigating how long the alleged abuse had been going on.

"I do know there was a previous injury she did have whether that led to this or not is something yet to be determined," Jennings said.

Wolfe was hired by CMPD on April 25, 2011 and worked out of the Metro Division.

Police said they are reviewing Wolfe's cases to make sure they were handled correctly.

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