Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Glendale Heights Chief of Police George Pappas announced today that a former Glendale Heights police officer has been charged with official misconduct for allegedly misusing a village-issued credit card. On June 13, 2024, a DuPage County Grand Jury indicted Mark Garcia, 37, on three counts of Official Misconduct (Class 3 Felony) and two counts of Theft (Class 4 Felony). Judge Robert Rohm issued an arrest warrant for Garcia on the same day. He turned himself in to authorities last night and was released from custody.

According to the indictment, it is alleged that between February 16, 2024, and April 3, 2024, Garcia, “a public employee of the Village of Glendale Heights Police Department, while acting in his official capacity,” “exerted unauthorized control over governmental property of the Village of Glendale Heights, being United States currency, having a total value not exceeding five hundred dollars” by using a WEX Fuel gasoline card issued by the Village of Glendale Heights for employment purposes to pay for gasoline for personal use. The alleged thefts were discovered by authorities with the Glendale Heights Police Department who conducted an investigation and turned their findings over to the State’s Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

“It is indeed troubling when someone entrusted with upholding the law is accused of breaking it,” Berlin said. “I would like to stress however that the charges against Mr. Garcia are not indicative of the honest, hardworking professional men and women of the Glendale Heights Police Department. In fact, members of the Glendale Heights Police Department are responsible for bringing this matter to our attention and for that I commend them. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorney Kathleen Rowe for her efforts in this case.”

“Our job as police officers is to uphold the law, and this is a stark reminder that no one is above the law and we are all responsible for our actions,” Pappas said. “I thank DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his Public Integrity Unit for presenting this case to a Grand Jury.”

Garcia’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 11, 2024, for arraignment in front of Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh.

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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