Walden Police Probe Allegations of Evidence Room Theft by Ex-Sergeant

A retired Walden sergeant allegedly took a license plate from an impounded vehicle stored in the department's evidence room and attached it to his own car. The Village of Walden Police Department has since launched a formal internal investigation, and if the probe confirms broader misconduct, it could compromise hundreds of criminal prosecutions.

The inquiry may also determine whether the former officer stole controlled substances from evidence storage or from the prescription drug drop-off boxes inside the Walden PD lobby. Those boxes allow residents to dispose of pills, tablets, and patches anonymously to help prevent drug abuse and environmental contamination. Sources also said the sergeant allegedly operated department vehicles while carrying a suspended license before finally being removed from road duty.

The trouble surfaced months before the investigation became public. Chief Daniel D'Elicio issued a memo on December 2, 2025, placing the sergeant on administrative leave effective immediately and prohibiting him from entering the department. The sergeant later retired.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office is consulting with Walden PD throughout the review and will determine whether criminal charges are warranted. No charges have been filed. The probe is expected to last several weeks as investigators sort through records and conduct a physical inventory of the evidence room. If any improprieties are confirmed, it could compromise hundreds of prosecutions and expose the department to criminal charges from the DA's office.

Sources said the internal audit may also extend to examining alleged transgressions in the Village's Building Department, widening its scope well beyond the evidence room.

D'Elicio and Village Manager John Revella both declined to comment. Mayor Becky Pearson did not respond to a request for comment. The scrutiny arrives as Walden's village government faces separate legal pressure: Revella, who also serves as an Orange County Legislator, was federally indicted on charges of filing false tax returns the same week the evidence-room allegations surfaced.