NEWPORT, Tenn. (WATE) — A former school resource officer with the Cocke County Sheriff’s Department has been indicted after a state investigation.

Leahla Hance is facing charges including official misconduct, forgery over $2,500, theft of property over $2,500, and the alteration, tampering, or fabrication of a government record.

Hance was the full-time SRO at Centerview Elementary School during the fall 2024 semester. An internal investigation was initiated by the sheriff’s office when an SRO supervisor visited the school in December 2024 and found Hance absent. The case was subsequently referred to the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office as required by state law.

She reportedly falsified timesheets to collect nearly $3,000 in wages for days she did not work. As per the comptroller’s office report, investigators determined she did not report to the school on at least 24 days, yet submitted timesheets claiming full workdays for 16 of those instances.

Hance was suspended during the internal investigation and resigned from the department in February. She acknowledged not reporting to school and admitted receiving payment for unworked time, as stated by the comptroller’s office.

Cocke County Sheriff CJ Ball announced in a statement that a full-time supervisor is now appointed to monitor daily operations more intently following the investigation. Additionally, patrol vehicles have GPS tracking, and each officer must communicate with dispatch at the start and end of their shift via radio to log their presence.

“Supervisors must ensure they verify employee timesheets before approving them for payment,” said Comptroller Jason Mumpower. “Monitoring SRO activity and using the department’s vehicle GPS technology can strengthen oversight and prevent misconduct.”