A former Rapid City police officer is being investigated on suspicion of embezzling about $30,000 from the Rapid City Peace Officers Association, officials said Friday.

Chris Hansen, former treasurer of the association and a liaison officer at Central High School, resigned in January in lieu of being terminated, Rapid City Police Chief Steve Allender said. Allender said that termination would have been unrelated to the embezzlement.

Allender said it was several weeks after the resignation before Peace Officers Association officials noticed the embezzlement.

Allender said Hansen, who had been employed by the police department since January 2001, was to be fired for issues regarding work performance and integrity. He would not give specifics about the issues.

"This evidence of embezzlement came up later on," Allender said.

He said the Peace Officers Association elected new officers Feb. 7, and the new treasurer found that funds had been embezzled. Hansen had been treasurer for 2-1/2 years.

"This is a fairly typical way embezzlements come to light," Allender said. "The changing of the bookkeeper."

Allender said the investigation was turned over to the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, which is typical when an investigation involves a law enforcement officer as suspect.

Sara Rabern, spokeswoman for the South Dakota Attorney General's Office, said Friday afternoon that Hansen had not been arrested or charged at that time.

The Journal was unable to find a phone number to contact Hansen for comment.

Allender said no public money is missing, only funds from the Peace Officers Association, a nonprofit organization.

James Hansen, president of the association and no relation to Chris Hansen, said the Peace Officers Association is looking at changing the way funds are handled.

"Everybody was stunned, hurt," James Hansen said. "Inside, you have people that you trust, and we trusted."

The Peace Officers Association consists of active and retired law enforcement officers, prosecuting attorneys and support staff from local, county, state and federal agencies.

James Hansen said the association supports 19 local charities and civic organizations. It also assists local victims of tragedy such as death, fires, medical emergencies or searches for lost loved ones.

He said the only sources of income for the association are membership dues, fundraisers and other groups paying for use of the association's facility.

"This was a major setback for our association," he said.

James Hansen said he hopes the association will be able to continue assisting charitable organizations as much as possible.

"We're still going to be there," he said.

Contact Katie Brown at 394-8318 or katie.brown@rapidcityjournal.com.