Investigations

On June 4, 2019, David Wilson, a retired lieutenant with the Massachusetts State Police (MSP), and Heath McAuliffe, a suspended MSP trooper, were sentenced in U.S. District Court, Boston, Massachusetts, in connection with an ongoing investigation into overtime abuse at MSP. Wilson, who pleaded guilty in January 2019, was sentenced to 1 day incarceration (deemed served); 2 years of supervised release, with the first 6 months to be served in home detention; and restitution in the amount of $12,450. McAuliffe, who pleaded guilty in March 2019, was sentenced to 1 day incarceration (deemed served); 1 year of supervised release, with the first 6 months in home detention; a fine of $4,000; and restitution of $7,860.

 

Wilson and McAuliffe were assigned to Troop E, which was responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic regulations along the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate I-90. The overtime in question involved the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort program (AIRE), which was intended to reduce accidents, crashes, and injuries on I-90 through an enhanced presence of MSP Troopers targeting vehicles traveling at excessive speeds.

 

Both men admitted collecting pay for overtime shifts they either left early or did not work at all. In 2016, Wilson, who was the officer-in-charge for numerous overtime shifts, earned approximately $259,475, including approximately $102,062 in overtime pay. In 2016, McAuliffe earned approximately $154,680, including approximately $60,908 in overtime pay. In 2015, he earned approximately $180,215, including approximately $83,496 in overtime pay.

 

Wilson and McAuliffe concealed their fraud by submitting citations designed to create the appearance they had worked overtime hours when they had not, and falsely claimed in MSP paperwork and payroll entries they had worked their entire overtime shifts.

 

In 2016, MSP received annual benefits in excess of $10,000 from DOT, primarily in the form of Federal grants.

 

DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with the FBI.