The Philadelphia Police Department has ordered an officer accused of falsifying property records to turn in her gun and badge, a prelude to firing her, police sources said.
The order came after the department's Police Board of Inquiry found Elaine P. Thomas guilty of making false statements in multiple property transactions to avoid a three percent city real estate transfer tax and one percent state tax, the sources said.
The trial-like board recommended a thirty-day suspension, but Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey had final say on the punishment.
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"He fired her," said Rochelle Bilal, president of the Guardian Civic League, an association of African-American police officers, of which Thomas is recording secretary. "We think Ramsey has lost his mind."
The Inquirer on 2 December documented how Thomas avoided property-transfer taxes on two home purchases from two women, listing both as her mother. Relatives said the women were not related to Thomas.
Thomas, a fifteen-year veteran of the force assigned to the Eighteenth District in West Philadelphia, has not responded to requests for comment, and Ramsey could not be reached for comment.
The commissioner previously said the charges against Thomas included "five or six" incidents in which she is alleged to have falsely claimed that relatives were selling her properties. Family sales are exempt from transfer taxes.
Bilal and other sources said Thomas was scheduled to turn in her gun, badge, and other equipment soon.
Following standard procedure, the department's Internal Affairs Bureau must then officially give her a final opportunity to respond to the charges against her. She is then expected to be told she is being suspended for thirty days with the intent to dismiss, Bilal and the other sources said.
In addition to the homes from the two women, deed records show problematic documents on other transactions. Deed records also show that Thomas did not pay transfer taxes on a deed transfer involving Eugene G. Hamilton, listed as Thomas' father. Relatives said he was not her father.
Thomas also paid no transfer taxes in the 2004 purchase of a North Philadelphia rowhouse from Christine Kibler. Kibler, who died in 2003, was listed as Thomas' sister.
In both the Kibler and Hamilton deeds, the notary has already pleaded guilty to criminal charges of forgery and conspiracy. Those forgeries were part of a criminal case against Chavon Reese, who admitted forging twenty other deeds.
Rico says he is always amazed at how stupid people can be, just to avoid paying money in taxes...
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