Fountain Valley Officer Is Subject of Embezzlement Inquiry : Investigation: The 10-year veteran is president of the police association and a Medal of Valor recipient.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY —  The district attorney’s office is investigating allegations that the president of the Fountain Valley Police Officers’ Assn. who is a Medal of Valor recipient embezzled from the association.

Officer Kevin D. Arnold, 33, of Mission Viejo, was placed on paid administrative leave July 20 and became the subject of a criminal probe this week, said his attorney, Diane Marchant.

Because that investigation has “just begun,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Guy Ormes said, nothing has yet been determined.

Police Chief Elvin Miali would not say how much money is believed to be missing.

“We’re not giving any information on the matter, because it’s an internal affairs” case, Miali said. “Right now, everything’s under investigation.”

Marchant said Arnold “has been assigned to his home while the investigation goes on. He has not been charged with anything by the department.”

She would not comment on the specifics of the case and advised Arnold to do the same, she said.

Arnold, a 10-year veteran, was decorated with a Medal of Valor in 1990 for his actions during a controversial shootout in late 1983.

A young reserve officer at the time, Arnold was accused by the burglary suspect, Michael Wayde Mohon, and Mohon’s attorney of using excessive force and unnecessarily shooting Mohon six times during a short foot chase.

Mohon was charged with trying to kill Arnold, but charges were dropped in 1991 for lack of evidence.

Arnold re-enacts the shootout in an instructional tape that has been used statewide at police academies.

Miali, who presented Arnold with the honor, said after the shootout that he had “acted properly throughout this whole thing. . . . Our feeling is that it was a good shooting, and he acted within our policy.”