A former Nogales police officer has been sentenced to four years of probation for embezzling from a law enforcement union.
Victor Hetherington has been sentenced to 4 years on probation and ordered to pay the full loss amount after pleading guilty to Computer Tampering for using his position as President of the Nogales Police Officers Association to steal $39,150.04 from that organization.
Between 2018 and 2023, Hetherington accessed NPOA’s bank accounts to make transfers to his own personal accounts, pay off his own credit cards, dine at restaurants, gamble at casinos, and pay for a dental appointment. He misled other members of the NPOA Board about how he was using these funds. Over the course of 5 years, he completed 689 unauthorized transactions, which accounted for over half of the organization’s operational budget in that time.
On November 10, 2025, the Santa Cruz County Superior Court sentenced Hetherington and ordered him to pay the full loss amount in criminal restitution. Hetherington had pled guilty to Computer Tampering on September 22, 2025.
He should never be able to work any kind of law enforcement again anywhere in the nation. Gun and voting rights should be suspended.
He may repay the money he stole, but he can’t repair the damage he has done to the public’s respect for law enforcement officers, in Nogales, in Arizona, and everywhere. He has dishonored the badge.
Here is another criminal that needs to be sent to jail. If this country does not start playing hardball we’ll keep deteriorating as a country. I want a better country for my kids and grandkids.