Officers with the Bakersfield Police Department have arrested one of their own after an internal investigation stemmed from a theft incident last year.

The full release can be seen below:

On August 4th, 2022, Bakersfield Police Department officers arrested Bakersfield Senior Police Officer B. Thebeau for a charge of petty theft. The arrest was a result of an audit of body camera footage based
upon a citizen complaint.

On November 11th, 2021, Senior Officer Thebeau and other Bakersfield Police Department officers executed a search warrant at a residence belonging to a subject who was arrested after he brandished a firearm at an officer. During a search of the residence, outside of the view of other officers, Senior Officer Thebeau opened a bag containing approximately two ounces of legally possessed marijuana and flushed the marijuana in a toilet.

An investigation was conducted and the report was submitted to the Kern County District Attorney’s Office. On today’s date, a warrant was issued for the charge of petty theft and Thebeau was arrested. Thebeau was issued an arrest citation as is standard procedure for this criminal charge.

Thebeau is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an administrative investigation.

The Bakersfield Police Department holds its employees to the highest standards of conduct. While rare, incidents of officer misconduct are immediately and thoroughly investigated.