KENOSHA, Wis. – Former Racine Police Officer LaVontay Fenderson was charged today, July 11, 2025, with two felony counts following an investigation into allegations that he defrauded the Racine Unified School District of more than $16,000 while assigned as a school resource officer.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Kenosha County District Attorney Xavier Solis personally filed one count of theft by false representation greater than $10,000 (a Class G felony) and one count of misconduct in public office (a Class I felony). If convicted, Fenderson could face up to 13.5 years in prison and $35,000 in fines.
According to the criminal complaint, Fenderson submitted overlapping time claims to both the Racine Police Department and RUSD for identical hours worked—during school time and at after-school events like sports games and student functions. Investigators documented at least 72 instances between December 2022 and September 2024 where he collected paychecks from both employers simultaneously, resulting in an improper payment total of $16,610.75 to RUSD.
The misconduct came to light after a Racine Police lieutenant noticed discrepancies in the department’s overtime logs and promptly requested an investigation by the Kenosha Police Department to eliminate any appearance of bias. Kenosha investigators confirmed the double-billing and officially referred felony charges to the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office on November 6, 2024.
Despite the referral, Fenderson was placed on administrative leave but continued to receive a paycheck from the Racine Police Department until he was allowed to quietly resign on May 27, 2025—nearly eight months after being placed on leave.
The criminal complaint also notes that Fenderson may have been under financial stress during the period of the alleged misconduct. Investigators discovered that Fenderson’s wife filed for divorce in 2020 and finalized it in 2021. He was also served with eviction paperwork in 2023. These personal and financial challenges are cited as possible motives for the scheme.
Efforts by Kenosha County Eye to obtain comments from Racine Police Chief Alexander Ramirez were unsuccessful. Public Information Officer Sgt. Alicia Mitchell also declined to provide updates beyond confirming Fenderson’s active employee status as recently as May.
Racine County District Attorney Patricia Hanson (D) refused to charge Fenderson. She has not responded to inquiries from Kenosha County Eye regarding that decision.
By pursuing the case when others would not, DA Solis demonstrated a firm commitment to accountability and transparency. His decision has garnered praise from community members and observers who have long sought consequences for Fenderson’s alleged misconduct.
Fenderson is scheduled to make his initial appearance in Racine County Circuit Court on July 30 at 2 p.m.
Kenosha County Eye will continue tracking the case and share further developments as they arise.
19 Responses
Disgusting
“I’m a cop to help people”. “It’s for the kids”
Disgusting actions of so many people.
Nearly 2 YEARS of getting 2 paychecks !!
What does that say about the payroll department !!
The supervisors that are supposed to approve ALL Time Cards each pay period ??
Where’s the oversight ?
The bosses doing their jobs ??
The fact that he was a city cop “ASSIGNED” to the school but still a City Cop ?!?!
Why was the school even writing a check at all ???
At Westosha Central and Wilmot it is my understanding that the checks come from the County Sheriff’s department and the school just gets a bill accordingly.
Am I missing something or is the way Racine pays SROs different ??
This is just as much on the City Police Chief as it is on this cop who figured out nobody was watching the till.
All the homies that came to his side in the other comments where you at now? I thought he was such a a great man, bla bla bla, he is who we thought he was! Now the important question, is the Sargent wife going to leave him, reading through the comments on the other stories about him it sure does sound like she might be a little thick cutie..
This is wrong. We are supposed to back the blue no matter what they do!
Shut your liberal ass up.
No doubt – what a dipshit.
I suppose if I hire a plumber and they leave a leak that floods my house I’m
supposed to blame all plumbers.
What a dipshit.
So glad we got rid of ours in Kenosha! Xavier Solis is doing a great job!
Only when they kill unarmed black men are they backed!
I have a lot of thoughts about this human but piece of double dipping shite comes 1st to my mind.
His total embezzlement needs to be tallied and reimbursed to taxpayers when he gets out
Of course, she never issues charges in these kinds of cases, because she is a firm believer of, they are all above the law including herself, this has been an issue in that DA office for years. She is toxic DA and should be walked out just like Kenosha did, clean house
We, The People !!!!
Racine County Residents Elected her.
Racine County Residents can un elect her.
It’s up to the people of Racine County to recruit a candidate and win.
Then you get your “Walk Out”
exactly
Lavontay… 🤡💩🖕
Racine County DA – What a Hottie
Kevin – please no longer post photos of DA Patricia Hanson in that large a format. I spit my coffee out…….thank in advance.
It’s ok for cops to shoot people though and go on high speed chases endangering lives smh
If he only got 16,000 give or take for claiming two positions for two years that goes to show how much they pay them.. looks like he should have been claiming hours for 3 positions 😫 but hey he’s black so he better take the ladder.. either way wrong is wrong but I’m not risking my life for no change