As SRJC District Police Sergeant Jeffrey Holzworth’s Dec. 17 arraignment approaches, information released in a search warrant details the initial suspicions that led to the 28- year veteran’s arrest on suspicion of grand theft and embezzlement.

Holzworth, 51, was arrested after SRPD used search warrants to install a GPS in Holzworth’s personal vehicle and to retrieve items from his home, workspace and personal and work cars. Several thousand dollars were found in the search, although it is unknown at this time how much Holzworth is suspected of taking.

The embezzlement investigation came after SRJC District Police Sgt. Steven Potter alerted District Police Chief Matthew McCaffrey about possible ongoing embezzlement from another officer. McCaffrey turned over the case Nov. 1 to SRPD to avoid a conflict of interest.

In a late October incident, Holzworth offered Sgt. Potter a ride to Tauzer Gymnasium for a defense tactics training session. Holzworth, however, forgot his cell phone and left Potter alone in his pickup truck to go retrieve it. Potter noticed a cup holder filled with only quarters, and out of curiosity, opened the truck’s center compartment.

The affidavit stated that Potter found six stacks of $1 bills and at least one stack of $5 bills. “Potter stated each stack was approximately one inch high and contained approximately 100 bills,” the affidavit states.

When Holzworth returned to his pickup, Potter told detectives, “Holzworth had a look of ‘panic’ on his face as he went back to his vehicle. Ofc. Holzworth got into the drivers seat of the vehicle. Holzworth removed his wallet from his pants and placed it into the center console of his vehicle. Sgt. Potter noticed that Holzworth opened the center console only enough to slide his wallet into it, and then he quickly shut it,” the affidavit states.

Shortly after Holzworth and Potter arrived at Tauzer, Potter noticed that Holzworth kept his keys in his sweat pants the entire time. The keys would frequently fall out of Holzworth’s pocket and disrupt training. Potter noted that this behavior was odd, as other officers placed their keys in a general area for safekeeping, the affidavit states.

The warrant detailed a separate occasion in 2006, in which Potter and another police employee observed Holzworth’s black bag in the locker room. The bag held Holzworth’s parking machine maintenance equipment. Potter said this was odd because the bag is usually kept in Holzworth’s locker or private office. The bag was partially unzipped. Potter and the other employee opened the bag to find approximately $100-200 in $1 bills.

They took the bag into evidence.
In the affidavit, Potter remembered another incident on a Sunday afternoon around 4:30 p.m. two or three years ago. “Sgt. Potter observed Ofc. Holzworth’s vehicle on Burbank Circle near a coin operated parking meter. He then noticed that Holzworth was emptying coins from the parking meter. Holzworth was wearing sweat pants and a sweatshirt. Potter stopped and spoke to Holzworth. Holzworth told Potter that he was leaving for Las Vegas later that afternoon and he needed to empty all the machines prior to leaving. (This was a Sunday and the Santa Rosa Junior College accounting office was not open.)”
Several of his fellow officers had suspected Holzworth had been taking advantages of his duties years prior to his arrest. “Yes there were suspicions, but this investigation is focusing on one singular incident,” McCaffrey said.

This observation led McCaffrey to request an SRPD investigation, where a GPS device was planted in Holzworth’s personal vehicle to track his movements for 30 days.

According to the SRJC Insider Newsletter, Holzworth was the May 2005 employee of the month and a committed member of the college community and Sonoma county law enforcement. He identified in the newsletter that his greatest accomplishment at SRJC was keeping all the permit machines and parking meters working at all times.

“I collect the money and maintain them to keep them up and running so we don’t lose revenue,” Holzworth said in the newsletter.

Holzworth was released after posting a $150,000 bail and has since been placed on administrative leave by the college. After two postponed arraignments, Holzworth is set to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 17.

SRPD Lt. Lance Badger said the investigation could take time. “It’s not like a homicide or robbery where we have all the facts and it’s a matter of rounding up suspects. This is totally different because it can trickle down to several financial institutions and it’s a lengthy process.”

Joe Passalacqua of the Healdsburg law firm Passalacqua and Passalacqua is representing Holzworth in court. Passalacqua is a specialized criminal defense lawyer. After several inquiries, Passalacqua declined to provide a statement to the Oak Leaf.

While Holzworth has declined to comment on the case, when told about the college community’s devastation over the case outside the courtroom Dec. 3, Holzworth looked at the ground and said, “I know.”