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FOX25 Investigates: Worker accused of lying about injury, collecting pay

WORCESTER, Mass. — A former correctional officer is accused of lying about a work related injury and collecting more than $17,000 in taxpayer money.

Tom Roy, a 12-year correctional officer at the Worcester County Jail, went on medical leave in January.

According to the investigative report obtained by FOX25 Investigates, Roy said he “suffered shoulder and back injuries” in the line of duty.

“He was responding to other officers that were calling for some assistance in detaining an inmate who was acting up," said Superintendent of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office David Tuttle.

FOX25 Investigates learned Roy collected his full pay of more than $17,000 while on medical leave.

Undercover Investigation

The Sheriff’s Office started investigating after getting an anonymous tip.

“(It said) that he was not being 100% honest with us,” said Tuttle.

The investigator hired by the Sheriff’s Office captured Roy on camera working hard several times.

Tuttle said with the video, it is pretty clear Roy’s injuries were not slowing him down at a construction site.

The video shows Roy going up and down ladders, using a sledge hammer and banging away with the back side of an ax.

“We did offer Mr. Roy a light duty assignment which is work in a control booth, answer a phone, pushing buttons, kind of a support role around here,” said Tuttle. “But he claimed he could not do that either."

>>April 22 investigation report
>>April 23 Investigation report
>>May 2 investigation report
>>May 5 Investigation report

Roy’s bosses fired him after seeing the video, but Roy is now fighting to get his job back.

"At the hearing Mr. Roy refused to answer questions,” explained Tuttle. “He spoke through his union that said he has medical documentation and he's going to stand by his medical documentation."

FOX25 Investigates made several attempts to talk to Roy.

He darted inside a house when he saw our reporter approach, and a woman told us to leave before slamming the door.

His employee union stated “the union has no comment on this matter as it is an ongoing personnel matter."

The Sheriff’s Office said it may pursue criminal charges.

"We don't tolerate this behavior here. It's really an insult to all of us. Anyone who puts on a uniform everyday day and goes to work," Tuttle said.