Porterville Police Department Press Release Crime: Location of Incident: Date/Time of Arrest: Suspect(s): Summary: UPDATED INFORMATION: In August 2008, the Porterville Police Department began investigating allegations of fraud by members of the State of California Office of Protective Services at the Porterville Developmental Center. Allegations had been made that State employees were submitting fraudulent overtime slips and being paid for time not worked. A criminal investigation was conducted over an eighteen month time frame by Detectives with the Porterville Police Department's General Investigations Unit. During the investigation twelve search warrants were served at numerous locations including the Porterville Developmental Center, in Las Vegas, and at several financial institutions. In addition, over 19,000 documents were reviewed and numerous people interviewed. The investigation revealed that Lieutenant Scott Gardner was claiming overtime for hours he had worked when he was not actually working and was being compensated for regular working hours in which he was not at work. Detectives learned that Lieutenant Gardner had claimed and been compensated for working overtime hours during numerous times that he was out of town, including multiple trips to Las Vegas and to various California cities, including the central coast. It also showed that Lieutenant Gardner had been paid overtime on numerous days that he was on vacation. Lieutenant Gardner consistently claimed overtime hours of 18 hours per day, and claimed from 200 to 250 overtime hours a month for each of the 12 months in 2008. In addition, the investigation showed multiple instances of Lieutenant Gardner was out of town on personal business on days that he was regularly scheduled, and being compensated for, to be at work. The investigation also showed that Commander Jeff Bradley, Lieutenant Gardner's immediate supervisor and head of the Porterville Developmental Center's Office of Protective Services, knew of and personally approved the fraudulent claims, and personally submitted the fraudulent overtime claims to the Porterville Developmental Center's Finance office, bypassing the normal overtime approval Embezzlement of Public Funds, Grand Theft Porterville Developmental Center, 26501 Avenue 140, Porterville February 9, 2010, 7:20 a.m. Jeff Lewis Bradley, 36 yr old Porterville resident. Scott Anthony Gardner, 37 yr old Camp Nelson resident processes. Commander Bradley is also believed to be aware that Lieutenant Gardner was actually out of town during times he was regularly scheduled, and being paid, to be at work. The investigation was ultimately submitted to the Tulare County District Attorney's Office for review and in February 2010, the case was presented to a Grand Jury. Upon the conclusion of the hearing, the Grand Jury handed down felony indictments against Commander Jeff Bradley and Lieutenant Scott Gardner. On February 9, 2010, at approximately 7:20 a.m., Porterville Police Detectives contacted Commander Bradley at his residence in Porterville while additional Detectives contacted Lieutenant Gardner at his residence in Camp Nelson. Both subjects were taken into custody without incident. Jeff Bradley was booked on one felony count of fraud, one count of grand theft and three counts of embezzlement of public funds in lieu of $60,000 bail. Scott Gardner was booked on one felony count of fraud and one count of grand theft in lieu of $60,000 bail. Commander Jeff Bradley and Lieutenant Scott Gardner are employed as peace officers with the State of California, Department of Developmental Services, Office of Protective Services. The Office of Protective Services delivers the full range of public safety services including basic policing, investigations, and fire safety services to the Department's five Developmental Centers (DCs) and the two State-operated Community Facilities (CFs). Each of the Developmental Centers has a Commander assigned to direct the services at each site. For further, refer to http://www.dds.cahwnet.gov/.