NATCHEZ — A retired Natchez police officer pleaded guilty Thursday to embezzling money from the Fraternal Order of Police.

Gail Marie Frisby, 58, 307 South Bluebird Drive, was arrested Thursday morning by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office on a Natchez Police Department affidavit for misdemeanor charges of embezzlement.

The embezzlement apparently occurred while Frisby served as treasurer for the organization.

Frisby retired from the police department less than three years ago after working at the department for 28 years.

She worked as treasurer of the FOP since 2006.

Lieutenant Craig Godbold said the FOP noticed an imbalance in funds recently and ordered the Natchez Police Department to investigate the matter.

Godbold said the embezzlement incidents occurred in January of this year, when Frisby apparently kept taking out money from FOP accounts and then later transferring money back in to cover the costs.

The series of embezzlement transitions occurred for “quite some time,” Godbold said.

Godbold said the police investigation found Frisby guilty of embezzling $421, the total of two separate checks. Embezzlement charges for amounts not exceeding $500 are legally considered misdemeanors.

Godbold said the investigation began approximately two months ago. He said account records were subpoenaed from two local banks, which he did not name, for the investigation.

Frisby has since paid $421 back to the fund.

County Prosecutor Barrett Martin recommended Frisby serve six months in county jail, suspended, two years of unsupervised probation and pay $500 in fines plus court fees.

Justice Court Judge Charlie Vess sentenced Frisby to six months in county jail, but suspended the sentence, two years of unsupervised probation, a $500 fine, court fees and 200 hours of community service.

Six months in county jail and a fine of $500 is the maximum sentence for misdemeanor embezzlement. The maximum sentence for felony embezzlement is 10 years in the state penitentiary and a $10,000 fine.

When Vess asked Frisby if she had a gambling problem or alcohol problem that influenced her to embezzle from the FOP, Frisby said she did not.

Frisby declined to make a statement to the court when Vess gave her the opportunity, but Vess said Frisby expressed regret for her crime in a written statement to the court.

Godbold and Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said the FOP is a separate organization from the police department.

Godbold said the FOP is still a trustworthy organization, which performs charitable services for underprivileged children and the community.

After sentencing, Vess said he was disappointed to see a police officer in his courtroom as a defendant.

“I’m ashamed that this matter happened and now it will carry another black mark on the Natchez Police Department and other law enforcement,” Vess said.

Two other NPD officers were arrested in August on unrelated charges of civil rights violations among other things. The men are currently on paid leave from the department pending trial.