Ex-parks cop pleads to helping himself to $36K in extra pay

Delaware County Park Police Department Lt. Christopher Cahall pleaded guilty Tuesday to paying himself more than $36,000 in fraudulent overtime while he was inputting payroll for the department in 2022 and 2023.

Cahall, 43, Springfield Township, entered an open guilty plea before Common Pleas Court Judge Mary Alice Brennan to one count of theft by deception, a seconddegree felony.

Deputy District Attorney Doug Rhoads offered two orders to the judge: one for restitution of $36,164 and another that would allow his pension contributions to be used for repayment.

Additional charges of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property will be dismissed at sentencing June 6, under the agreement struck by Rhoads and defense counsel Michael Dugan. Cahall previously waived a preliminary hearing on all charges.

Cahall was arrested after Chief John Diehl of the Delaware County Park Police contacted Detectives Edward Rosen and Robert Lythgoe of the Criminal Investigation

Division’s Special Investigations Unit on Aug. 2 regarding a possible theft, according to a release from District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.

Diehl reported that Cahall was put in charge of inputting payroll for the park police in January 2022. In July 2023, assignments were changed and Cahall was removed from payroll duties.

During that transition, a park police captain recalled Cahall had been out for two days, but he never reported any sick time. The discrepancy triggered an internal audit, and it was determined that “a large amount” of overtime had been paid to Cahall.

Rosen and Lythgoe examined pay period sheets, timesheets, printouts from the payroll system and shift logs, as well as paystubs supplied by the controller’s office.

The investigation revealed that there were many instances where Cahall was paid overtime for extra shifts and holidays that he had not worked.

Cahall allegedly admitted to the thefts during an interview with Rosen and Lythgoe. He remains free on $100,000 unsecured bail.

Diehl did not return a call for comment Tuesday.