Former Dispatcher and Spokeswoman for the Cudahy Police Department Charged With Felony Misconduct in Public Office

CUDAHY -- Melissa T. Mueller, a former dispatcher and spokeswoman for the Cudahy Police Department, was charged Wednesday with felony misconduct in public office and misdemeanor theft-embezzlement after she was caught allegedly pocketing cash paid by citizens for parking tickets.

According to the complaint:
On one occasion Mueller is seen recording payments made by check into her work station computer but not those paid in cash. She is then seen taking the cash payments that were not recorded, walking off camera and then returning without the cash.

On two other occasions Muller is seen accepting $25 payments at a cashier's window but not entering the transactions into her work station computer.
She was also seen opening her cash register manually, removing $25 and slipping the cash into her rear left pants pocket, according to the complaint.

If convicted Mueller could be sentenced to up to four years and three months in jail and fined $20,000.

Mueller was freed Wednesday on a $1,000 signature bond.