Investigations

On December 11, 2018, Heath McAuliffe, a suspended trooper with the Massachusetts State Police (MSP), was charged via criminal complaint in U.S. District Court, Massachusetts, with embezzlement from an agency receiving Federal funds. The charge was related to an ongoing investigation of overtime abuse at MSP. McAuliffe was arrested on December 12, 2018.

 

As a trooper assigned to Troop E, McAuliffe was responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic regulations along the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate I-90. This was overtime work connected to the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort (AIRE) program. AIRE was intended to reduce accidents, crashes, and injuries on I-90 through an enhanced presence of MSP troopers targeting vehicles traveling at excessive speeds.

 

According to the complaint, however, McAuliffe received overtime pay for hours that he either did not work at all or for shifts from which he departed 1 to 4 hours early. He allegedly concealed his fraud by submitting citations that he altered to suggest they were issued during the shift, or citations that were never issued.

 

In 2016, McAuliffe earned $164,680, including approximately $60,908 in overtime. In 2015, he earned $180,215, including approximately $83,496 in overtime. Between August 1, 2015, and August 31, 2016, he was paid $9,825 for AIRE overtime hours that he did not work.

 

MSP routinely receives DOT grants to enforce traffic regulations on public roadways.

 

DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

 

Note: Indictments, informations, and criminal complaints are only accusations by the Government. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.