A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer was arrested today and charged with five counts of illegally obtaining prescription painkillers (opioids) from a dental practice in Matthews.
CMPD identified the officer as Jennifer Wolfe, 37. She was booked in Mecklenburg jail with bond set at $5,000.
In a statement emailed to local media, Chief Kerr Putney said he was “disappointed and saddened” at the officer’s arrest.
“The men and women of this organization are regular people, who face the same challenges as the rest of our community,” he said. “Unfortunately, we are not immune from the growing opioid epidemic. We represent the law and must hold ourselves accountable when we violate it.”
The department began an investigation Aug. 14 after being contacted by an employee of Danze Dentistry.
“The investigation revealed that Officer Wolfe had obtained fraudulent prescriptions for pain killers from an employee of the practice,” the department said in the statement.
Wolfe was hired by CMPD on April 2011 and was assigned to the Metro Division as a patrol officer. She was placed on paid administrative leave at the start of the investigation. After her arrest today, she was placed on unpaid leave.
Matthews police charged a dental practice employee identified as Roberta Porter.
CMPD said both departments are continuing their investigations.
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