Former Oregon police chief charged with tax fraud

Pettit was being investigated in August by village board for misconduct

MADISON, Wis. — A former Oregon police chief was charged Tuesday with two counts of filing a false or fraudulent tax return, according to a release from the Department of Justice.

Douglas H. Pettit submitted tax returns to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for 2010, 2011 and 2012. According to a criminal complaint, the DOJ and DOR determined that Pettit earned more income than he reported on his tax returns.

Pettit reported income from his former employment with the village of Oregon, but he did not report income received from providing security services to other businesses, according to the complaint. The total amount of unreported income throughout the three-year period is $43,083, which has resulted in the underpayment of income taxes to the state of Wisconsin in the amount of $2,946.

At the end of August News 3 reported that Pettit was being investigated by the DOJ over allegations that may rise to the level of misconduct in public office.

News 3 reported that a document released by the village of Oregon Board indicated Pettit used village resources while working off-duty at businesses that served alcohol and were subject to liquor-license requirements of the village.

The document said, “The board believes this behavior is reprehensible, inconsistent with village of Oregon rules and general expectations of professional conduct of law enforcement officers, and cannot occur for the sake of effective law enforcement services to our community.”

Filing a false tax return is Class H felony under Wisconsin law, according to the release. The maximum possible penalty for the offense includes a fine not more than $10,000, not more than six years in prison or both.

Pettit will make his initial appearance in court on Dec. 29.