Police Sergeant Charged With Stealing $2,000

A veteran police sergeant was charged Tuesday with stealing $2,000 from a man who was stopped by police at a crime scene, authorities said.

Sgt. James L. Shear, 49, faces a felony grand theft charge related to the Nov. 26 incident, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Dennis Poey, of the Special Investigations Division.

The money allegedly was taken from a sealed envelope inside the car of a man who was being detained by Pasadena police, authorities said.

A week after the theft, Shear became distraught at the police station and threatened to kill himself with his handgun, Police Cmdr. Mary Schander said.

Senior officers and a psychologist after several hours persuaded Shear to seek professional help, according to a police statement. He was allowed to leave the station after he surrendered his weapon and agreed to check into a medical facility, police said.

After that incident, Pasadena police determined that Shear may have been involved in the alleged theft and began a criminal investigation, Schander said. Results of that probe were forwarded to the prosecutor’s office last week.

Shear has since been released from the hospital and remains on paid leave, police said. His attorney, Richard Shinee, did not return telephone calls.

Shear is scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 17. If convicted, he could face up to three years in prison.