CHELMSFORD OFFICER INDICTED IN THEFTS FROM DARE PROGRAM

CHELMSFORD A Middlesex grand jury handed up a 20-count indictment against a
decorated police officer Thursday for allegedly stealing up to $20,000 in
department money.

Officer Michael Horan who was on paid administrative leave was immediately
suspended without pay.

"His status will remain until further notice suspended without pay and
we'll have to wait for disposition of the charges," said Lt. James Murphy.

He said the case is still under investigation and declined to discuss
specifics of the case.

Sources have said Horan is alleged to have stole money from the DARE
program over the course of several months.

The indictment included 10 counts of felony embezzlement and eight counts
of felony larceny as well as 2 counts of misdemeanor larceny.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday at Middlesex Superior Court in
Cambridge.

A felony count indicates over $250 was stolen and a misdemeanor is leveled
when less than $250 is stolen.

Murphy declined to say whether the multiple accounts indicates money was
stolen on numerous occasions.

Horan was put on administrative leave Nov. 18 as the investigation began.

Horan, who turned 30 yesterday, joined the department in June 1999. He had
been in charge of the DARE program at Parker and McCarthy middle schools
for three years.

He was honored with a meritorious award in 2002 for his role during a
four-hour stand-off between police and a heavily armed Steadman Street man
in September 2001. At the time, Chief Raymond G. McCusker praised Horan and
four other officers for their professionalism and tactical skills managing
the situation.