ORLANDO, Fla. — A former Orlando police officer is accused of stealing $200,000 in federal money intended for the city.
Amy Bretches retired in March, but served previously in the school resource unit. The 49-year-old turned herself in Thursday after the grand jury handed down an indictment on three counts of money laundering.
Investigators say Bretches opened a credit union account under the police department's name, then registered the city as a Federal Emergency Management Agency recipient tied to that account.
"Were you stealing money from the federal government?" WFTV reporter Vanessa Welch asked.
Only WFTV was there when Amy Bretches walked out of federal court Thursday with her attorneys.
"Why did you open up an account in the city's name without permission?" Welch asked.
"Ma'am, ma'am, please get out of her face," replied someone with her.
Federal money meant for Orlando's emergency management office in 2004 allegedly flowed instead to Bretches, and eventually out of that account.
Parents at Blanker Elementary School, who knew her well, were surprised to learn she's facing three counts of money laundering
"I can't imagine there is any truth to that. I have only seen her give of her own time and her own resource. I have seen her change lives in this school," parent Maria Guthrie said.
If convicted, Bretches could be sentenced up to 30 years imprisonment.