Patricia Harth, Wife of Police Captain Accused In Booster Club Theft

ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- An Alpharetta police captain has been placed on administrative leave after Fulton County schools police arrested his wife on theft charges.

Fulton County schools officials said Patricia Linette Harth was a volunteer coordinator for the Alpharetta Raiders high school booster club and they believe she was boosting her bottom line by stealing thousands from the club.

Investigators told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik that they want to know if her husband, Alpharetta police Capt. Kirk Harth, knew what was going on.

”There were some parents in our booster club that realized there was money not accounted for, said Fulton County schools spokeswoman Susan Hale.

Harth faces felony theft by conversion charges because investigators believe she siphoned between $9,000 to $12,000 from a fundraiser into her own bank account over the course of nearly a year.

”Everyone’s a victim when something like this happens, said Hale.

Alpharetta's assistant city administrator James Drinkard sent Petchenik an emailed statement saying the city has put Kirk Harth on leave because of what happened.

"Upon being notified of the situation, the city immediately placed Captain Harth on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation to determine if he had any involvement in or knowledge of the alleged criminal activity, the administrator wrote. The statement went on to say, ”The city of Alpharetta believes it is important that a full and independent investigation be conducted."

While Drinkard said there's no indication Kirk Harth had anything to do with the alleged theft, he said he's asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to be sure.

Petchenik left a message for Patricia Harth and sent her an email seeking comment, but he did not hear back.