Five more troopers under investigation in State Police overtime scandal

FRAMINGHAM, Massachusetts — Massachusetts State Police announced additional discrepancies in overtime pay as part of an ongoing audit of overtime shifts worked by members of the former Troop E.

Five members of the former Troop E have been scheduled for duty status hearings next week because of alleged discrepancies between overtime pay received and hours worked.

The hearings will determine those members’ duty status while the alleged pay discrepancies are investigated by the State Police Internal Affairs Section. These members could have their status changed from active duty to any of several other options, including suspension without pay.

“In March, the Department announced initial alleged discrepancies that were uncovered in certain Troop E overtime payments for 2016 and we made clear that our review would continue into other types of overtime shifts, other calendar years, and other Troops,” said Colonel Kerry Gilpin. “Today’s announcement is the result of the next stage of that ongoing effort to ensure that any department member who received payment for hours they did not work is held accountable and subject to appropriate disciplinary action.”

State Police said the alleged discrepancies announced on Friday occurred during special traffic enforcement overtime shifts run in 2016 by Troop E.

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Troop E was responsible for patrolling the Massachusetts Turnpike and Metropolitan Tunnel System until its elimination earlier this year.

The five department members who will be called to duty status hearings are in addition to the nearly 30 active or retired personnel who are already under investigation for overtime payments.

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The result of the audit is being provided to the state Attorney General’s Office for its ongoing review to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.

Friday’s announcement marks the completion of the State Police audit of all overtime shifts worked by the former Troop E in 2016. The department’s team conducting the overtime audits will now turn its attention to shifts worked in 2015.

State police said it conducted an audit of overtime shifts worked in 2016 by all other Troops besides the former Troop E, and found no discrepancies.

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