Herkimer Police Officer: "I'm sorry I stole the money"

By By JOLEEN FERRIS

Story Created: Jan 21, 2010 at 11:32 AM EDT

Story Updated: Jan 21, 2010 at 1:15 PM EDT

HERKIMER, N.Y. (WKTV) - A Herkimer village police officer was sentenced Thursday for stealing nearly $10,000 in cash that he was supposed to be safeguarding.

Former investigator Robert Risi stole the money from an evidence room at the Herkimer village police department.


Thursday in court, he apologized to his family, boss, coworkers and the entire village.

Risi said he was a pathological gambler and that he received treatment for that and is now concentrating on getting out of prison as quickly as possible to reunite with his family.

In exchange for his guilty plea last fall to 3rd degree grand larceny, Risi will spend the next one to 3 years in prison. However, the judge recommended him for shock incarceration which is more of a "boot camp" setting as opposed to prison. It's not yet clear if he is eligible.
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