Former Westminster Police Chief arrested

The former Police Chief for the City of Westminster has been charged with embezzlement.  Monday’s arrest of Scott Bannister follows an eight-month investigation by the State Law Enforcement Division. Bannister stands charged with embezzlement of more than $5,000, forgery, and misconduct in office.  The former Westminster Police Chief resigned his position last July after city officials asked SLED to investigate discrepancies in the police department. The embezzlement charge is a felony with a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine, while the forgery charge carries five years and the misconduct count is a possible year in prison. A SLED warrant accuses Bannister of converting more than $100,000 in public funds for his own use.  The warrants state that the alleged activity occurred from January 2010 up until Bannister’s resignation. He had served as police chief for 11 years.