Billy Joe Jones, a former Durant Police Officer was arrested on April 24 for Embezzlement charges. He is accused of embezzling over $100,000 during a four-year period while he was supposed to be upholding the law.
Court documents filed in Bryan County on April 24 allege that Jones, a 47-yearold malefromOklahomastole over $67,000 from money seized from narcotics arrests; he was a narcotics officer at the time. He is also accused of stealing $37,000 from the Fraternal Order of Police when he was an entrusted financial officer.
The court documents also allege that the thefts occured between March 2018 and February 2022. The Durant Police Department and Fraternal Order of the Police issued a statement about the incident.
'In May 2022, the Durant Police Department discovered monetary discrepancies linked to former Lieutenant Billy Jones, who retired on February 25, 2022, after 23 years of service. While employed at the Durant Police Department, Jones was an active member of the Durant Fraternal Order of Police, serving in the roles of both President and Secretary/ Treasurer. Soon after Jones’ retirement, members of the FOP discovered apparent financial discrepancies had occurred within his area of responsibility as Secretary/ Treasurer. Notification by the FOP prompted the Durant Police Department to review Jones’ activity as a narcotics officer. In May 2022, monetary discrepancies were also discovered within the narcotics division and believed to be criminal in nature. The OklahomaStateBureauofInvestigation was immediately notified of the discrepancies. The OSBI accepted the case and began their investigation. This investigation is ongoing and further media inquiries should be directed to the OSBI.'