Former Police Department Spokesman Charged ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - 21-year-Rochester Police Department veteran Carlos Garcia has been charged with 13 counts of petit larceny Friday.

Sergeant Garcia, a former department spokesman, is accused of using a department-issued gas card for personal use. The charge is a class A misdemeanor and comes after a 5 month investigation.

Rochester Police Chief David Moore says Garcia was singled out for investigation based on a tip. He says the charges relate only to Sergeant Garcia at the moment, and that controls have been put in place to prevent further abuse.

A second internal investigation is being conducted by the police department into Garcia's use of a city-owned car.

Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy issued a statement saying he recused himself from the investigation, because when he was police chief, Garcia served under him. Duffy says he's familiar with and fond of Garcia's family, and that he's "especially saddened" by the arrest.
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