N.J. police lieutenant charged with time fraud
A Milltown, N.J. police lieutenant was indicted on Oct. 24 for falsifying his time card and collecting overtime pay for hours he did not work.
The investigation into Lieutenant Douglas Cole's overtime theft arose when the Milltown Police Department discovered the theft and reported it to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, according to NJ Today.
The Middlesex County grand jury charged Cole with receiving nearly $5,000 between Dec. 5, 2011 and July 10, 2012. The indictment stated he filed vouchers seeking overtime payment for work he did not complete on 17 separate occasions. On 16 of these occasions, he received over $200.
Cole, a 24-year veteran of the police force, was charged with theft by deception, official misconduct, engaging in a pattern of official misconduct and tampering with public records.
Cole surrendered to the police on Oct. 11, 2012, but was released on his own recognizance. He has been suspended from duty pending the outcome of the trial.
Using web attendance software helps to prevent wage and overtime theft by keeping detailed records of employee time. In addition to utilizing attendance software, workplaces should take greater care to check up on claims of overtime hours.
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