LAPD officer arrested for forgery for allegedly faking doctor's notes

LOS ANGELES - A Los Angeles Police Department officer was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of forgery for allegedly submitting "altered doctor's notes" for medical benefits, authorities said.

Officer Crystal Lara, a 12-year veteran assigned to the Southwest Area, was taken into custody on a felony arrest warrant for forgery, and was booked at the Metropolitan Detention Center, the LAPD reported. Lara was released after posting $20,000 bail, police said.

"The Los Angeles Police Department's Internal Affairs Division investigated altered doctor's notes Officer Lara submitted to the department for medical benefits," an LAPD statement said.

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"Internal Affairs Division in partnership with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office established probable cause to believe the doctor's notes were forged," police said. "Officer Lara has been relieved of her police powers."

According to police, the District Attorney's Office filed charges against Lara for forgery.

The LAPD Internal Affairs Division, under the Professional Standards Bureau, is responsible for investigating criminal and administrative allegations of misconduct against department employees, police said.

"The goal of the department is to aggressively investigate fraud and abuse of benefits within the Workers' Compensation system," police said.