Investigations

On June 20, 2019, Gary Herman, a former Massachusetts State Police (MSP) trooper, was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Boston, Massachusetts, to 1 day in prison; 12 months of supervised release, with 3 months to be served in home confinement; and $12,468 in restitution. The sentence is connected to the ongoing investigation of overtime abuse at MSP. Herman pleaded guilty in October 2018.

 

Herman was 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.

 

In 2016, Herman earned $227,826, which included approximately $63,053 in overtime pay. The investigation revealed that he was paid for overtime shifts that he either left early or did not work at all. He then submitted fraudulent citations to create the appearance that he had worked overtime hours that he had not, and falsely claimed in MSP paperwork and payroll entries he had worked the entirety of his overtime shifts.

 

In 2016, MSP received annual benefits from DOT in excess of $10,000, which were funded pursuant to numerous Federal grants.

 

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