MANGHAM, LA — A North Louisiana police chief and a former assistant chief have been arrested after state authorities accused them of stealing money that was meant for the family of a fallen officer. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said Mangham Police Chief Perry Fleming opened a beneficiary account in the name of the former officer, who was killed in the line of duty.
Investigators say more than $6,000 collected for the officer’s family was instead used for personal travel. Former Assistant Police Chief Dakota McKinney is also accused in the case, with authorities saying he helped Fleming destroy public records tied to the money.
Attorney general says the money was gathered for the officer’s survivors
Murrill’s office says the funds were intended for the family of a slain officer, making the case especially sensitive in a small department where public trust is central. The accusation is that the account was set up in the dead officer’s name, but the benefit of the money never reached the family as intended.
According to the allegations, the collection brought in more than $6,000. Instead of preserving the money for the officer’s relatives, investigators say the chief diverted it for himself. State officials have not said exactly when the account was opened or how long the money was held before it was spent.
Fleming is accused of using the funds for personal travel
The accusation against Fleming goes beyond simple misuse of money. Authorities say the chief took donations that were tied to a fallen officer and spent them on personal travel, turning a memorial effort into alleged self-enrichment.
That allegation is at the center of the criminal case now moving forward in northeast Louisiana. Public officials have not detailed where the travel took place or what expenses were paid with the money, but the amount at issue is more than $6,000. The case has put Mangham’s police leadership under sharp scrutiny.
Former assistant chief allegedly helped destroy public records
McKinney, the former assistant chief, is accused of helping destroy public records connected to the account and the money trail. That allegation suggests investigators believe there was an effort to conceal how the funds were handled after they were collected.
Destroying public records is a separate accusation from the theft allegation against Fleming, but it is tied to the same investigation. Authorities have not publicly described the specific records involved, though the claim indicates state investigators are treating documentation as a key part of the case.
Both men face criminal conspiracy and malfeasance charges
Fleming and McKinney each face several charges, including criminal conspiracy and malfeasance in office. Those charges reflect the state’s view that the alleged conduct involved more than an isolated financial mistake and instead involved coordinated wrongdoing by public officials.
The arrests add another layer to a case already shaped by the death of a police officer and the expectation that donations would support the officer’s family. State officials have not released additional details about court dates, bond conditions, or whether more charges could follow as the investigation continues.
A case that raises questions about trust in a small police department
The allegations are likely to resonate well beyond Mangham because they involve money linked to a line-of-duty death. In cases like this, donors usually expect every dollar to go to the family being supported, and the criminal accusations say that trust was broken.
For residents, the case also puts a spotlight on how small departments handle donations, records, and internal oversight. The attorney general’s office has not said whether the department itself was involved in creating the account or whether any funds remain available to the officer’s family. For now, the case centers on two former leaders and the money they are accused of mishandling.