A Mobile police officer fired earlier this year after an internal trial board found him guilty of multiple department violations has turned himself in on a criminal theft charge stemming from the same investigation.
Wayne Lawley, who went by ‘Fred’ and had served with the Mobile Police Department, lost his job on Feb. 27 after a trial board determined he was guilty of four major departmental violations: conduct unbecoming an officer, unlawful conduct, violating the law enforcement code of ethics, and being untruthful during a department investigation. Evidence gathered during the internal probe was later submitted to the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office, which pursued a criminal charge of second-degree theft of property against him.
Lawley turned himself in at the Mobile Metro Jail in the afternoon and was released a short time later after posting bond. He is scheduled to appear in court in April to face the theft charge. A police department spokeswoman confirmed the case remains active and that the investigation is ongoing, though additional details about the specific circumstances of the theft allegation were not released publicly.
The termination and subsequent criminal charge highlight the department’s internal accountability process, which includes a trial board review for officers accused of serious misconduct. A finding of guilt on any of the four violations Lawley faced can result in termination, and the combination of conduct violations and dishonesty findings often signals a serious breach of the trust placed in sworn officers.
Mobile police officials have not detailed publicly what specific property or incident led to the theft allegation, and the department has said the broader investigation remains open, leaving open the possibility of further findings or charges connected to the case.
Cases involving fired officers facing subsequent criminal charges tend to draw close attention in Mobile, where residents and city leaders have pushed in recent years for greater transparency in how the police department handles misconduct allegations against its own ranks. The outcome of Lawley’s April court date will determine whether the criminal case proceeds to trial or is resolved through a plea agreement, and it will likely factor into ongoing conversations at City Hall about oversight of law enforcement conduct.
The Mobile Police Department has not indicated whether any additional officers were implicated in the same investigation that led to Lawley’s termination and criminal charge.