Former police union head indicted

Accused of stealing from Police Benevolent Association

TROY, N.Y. » The former head of the Troy Police Benevolent Association was indicted by a Rensselaer County grand jury Friday for allegedly stealing $6,200 from the union.

Aaron Collington, a Troy Po- lice detective, was indicted on one count of third degree grand larceny, a class D felony.

Collington was president of the Troy Police Benevolent Association. He resigned in September, about a month prior to his arrest.

Albany County District Attorney David Soares was named special prosecutor.

Collington is still employed by the department, and is on paid leave.

He is expected to be arraigned Tuesday in Rensselaer County Court. Collington is being represented by Troy attorney Joseph Ahearn, who declined to comment on Monday. According to paperwork filed with the indictment, on Jan. 13, 2017, the PBA treasurer noticed an unusual transaction had taken place using PBA funds. It was to New York Boot and Tow Release for $761. The PBA Board of Directors had no knowledge of it. When asked, Collington said it was an emergency use of the PBA card. A few days later, Collington reimbursed the fund. After being told his use of the card had been inappropriate, he said he wouldn’t do it again.

In May 2017, the PBA decided to switch banks, moving funds from Trustco to State Employees Fed- eral Credit Union (SEFCU). Collington was to conduct the switch, leaving $100 in the Trustco account to let an outstanding check clear. After the transfer, investigators noticed the SEFCU amount was short $6,200. They then discovered that $6,200 amount had been withdrawn in cash, a violation of PBA bylaws.

An emergency meeting of the PBA was convened. According to the documents, Collington had

knowledge of the $6,200 and said it would be returned in the morning.

On Sept. 5, 2017, a hold was placed on the union’s SEFCU account so things could be sorted out. Inves-

tigators learned Collington had been in earlier asking for a letter saying he’d deposited $6,000 into the PBA’s account when he hadn’t yet. His request wasn’t granted.

The PBA board then voted to prosecute the case.

Investigators say Collington used the money to pay four months worth of rent on a home in Nassau.