Ex-Las Vegas police foundation head faces 19 felony theft charges

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The former executive director of the Las Vegas Metro Police Department Foundation allegedly moved money to pay himself, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained Tuesday.

Thomas Kovach Jr. faces 19 theft charges, records said. All the charges are felonies and range in value from $3,500 to $100,000.

Founded in 1999, the non-profit, which is separate from the police department itself, “raises funds to support and supplement [Metro’s] programs and initiatives,” a post on its website said. Those programs included funding part of the department’s $25 million reality training center.

The foundation raised nearly $9 million in 2023 through fundraising, contributions and other income, like through LVMPD-branded license plates, documents said.

According to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained Tuesday, Kovach allegedly “misused his position as executive director” to move nearly $350,000 of foundation money to a second organization, Project Real. On its website, Project Real’s leadership said the nonprofit “[guides] students in understanding their constitutional rights, the intricacies of laws that shape daily life, and the value of lives rich with civic engagement.”

Kovach allegedly miscoded payments within the LVMPD Foundation’s system, disguising them. He then allegedly paid more than $182,000 to himself, police allege.

“Kovach knew that any such requests for funding needed to be put before the board of directors of the foundation,” documents said. “Kovach failed to ask the board of directors their permission to use foundation funds this way.”

“On 16 occasions when Kovach paid himself, without the funds transferred from the foundation, Project Real had insufficient funds to cover the payment to Kovach,” documents said.

Prosecutors issued a summons for Kovach’s arrest on Monday, records said. He was not due to appear in court until Oct. 28.

“The LVMPD Foundation is fully cooperating with Metro and their investigation of this matter,” Karen Marben, the current executive director of the foundation, said in a statement. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to our mission and the community we serve.”

An attorney listed for Kovach did not return a request for comment.

8 News Now Investigator David Charns can be reached at dcharns@8newsnow.com .

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