Former Logan Co. Deputy Arrested, Accused Of Stealing From Family Of Slain Deputy

A former Logan County deputy is in legal trouble after prosecutors said he stole from the family of a deputy killed in the line of duty.

The guns belonged to David Wade.

Wade was killed in the line of duty in April 2017.

Records show that same month Jason Tauer started pawning his weapons.

“Not only did he defy the trust of the Wade family but the trust that we had with him as a brother in law enforcement,” said Logan County Sheriff Damon Devereaux.

In 2017 three-year veteran Wade was killed while serving an eviction notice.

Court documents show within the days that followed, Wade's roommate and fellow deputy, Jason Tauer, pawned multiple firearms Wade had recently sold.

“Our previous deputy had sold those to his mother because he was going through a divorce, sold all of his guns and during that time he was killed and his mom had possession of his guns,” said Devereaux.

Despite the sale of the guns, they remained in a shared gun safe.

Wade's family learned of the sales after some of the guns were recognized as belonging to their family.

“They didn’t know what to do, they couldn’t believe it,” said Devereaux.

Following a department investigation Devereaux said Tauer was fired.

“The day he was terminated he said he screwed up, screwed up big time,” said Devereaux.              

OSBI handled the criminal investigation, and in February Tauer was arrested.

“We as law enforcement are held to a higher standard,” said Devereaux.

While the pawned guns totaled in excess of $5,000, for Wade's family they're invaluable.

“At the end of the day it's not about the money, it’s about the memories,” said Devereaux.

Tauer is charged with embezzlement and false pawn declaration.

Related:

Man Convicted Of Killing Logan Co. Deputy Receives Life Without The Possibility Of Parole

Logan Co. Deputy's Family Reacts To Life Sentence For Convicted Murderer