FEDS: STATIE OT CHARGES ARE JUST THE START
Three state troopers — handcuffed and shackled at the feet as they appeared yesterday in federal court to face embezzling charges — could be just the tip of the iceberg, U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling said, promising an ongoing probe of overtime abuse in the Massachusetts State Police.
The troopers — former Lt. David Wilson, 57, of Charlton, former trooper Paul Cesan, 50, of Southwick, and trooper Gary Herman, 45, of Chester — were arrested at their homes shortly after sunrise yesterday. While initially brought before a judge in manacles, they were released without bail after their arraignment in U.S. District Court in Boston. They pleaded not guilty and declined to comment as they left the courthouse.
“Today’s charges are the beginning and not the end of this federal investigation,” Lelling said. “There will be ongoing federal enforcement in this area aimed at determining whether this is a systemic problem in the state police.”
A state police audit has already flagged about 40 troopers with questionable overtime claims in 2016, resulting in retirements and hearings.
All three troopers worked for Troop E, the recently disbanded unit tasked with patrolling the Mass Pike.
State police Col. Kerry A. Gilpin said the agency is cooperating with federal and state investigators looking into the alleged overtime fraud and is auditing more years of overtime shifts claimed. Gov. Charlie Baker’s office said the administration is also bringing in an outside consultant to “conduct an independent management review.”
State Sen. Michael Moore, a Millbury Democrat who serves as the Senate’s chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, said the embattled state police agency needs outsiders to “draft policies and procedures that are based on national standards.”
Federal prosecutors said yesterday they crosschecked state police records and determined the troopers did not work the 4- or 8-hour traffic enforcement
shifts they claimed.
Troopers attempted to cover their tracks by altering tickets written during normal shifts to appear like they were written during the overtime shifts, and even issued bogus citations for violations that never occurred, the feds said.
Lelling, working independently of Attorney General Maura Healey’s similar probe, said investigators planned to “look back as far as we can.”
“Allegations like this where you could have widespread systemic corruption — in some ways petty corruption where you’re not showing up for a shift and then lying about having worked it — I think you need somebody to look at it,” Lelling said. “That kind of rot tends to spread.”
FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Harold H. Shaw said the misconduct cuts to the heart of the state police mission.
“Each and every one of these troopers took an oath to protect and serve. Instead, we believe, they misused their positions solely for their own financial benefit,” Shaw said. “Equally disturbing are the steps they took to cover up their alleged criminal behavior.”
The Pioneer Institute’s Greg Sullivan, a former state inspector general, said the fallout from the past year’s state police scandals has caused the organization “long-lasting and profound” damage to its image.
“What is needed is a complete reorientation,” said Sullivan, “not just fuel for the overtime gravy train.”