Investigations

On September 16, Matthew Alan Rushing, a Dallas police officer, was charged via information in U.S. District Court, Dallas, Texas, for submitting a false report to receive federally funded overtime pay.

 

The information alleges that from February through May 2019, Rushing worked overtime hours that were funded by a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to the Dallas Police Department. The grant covered overtime pay so officers could increase enforcement of laws regulating speeding, driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, and seatbelt usage. The aim was to reduce fatal and serious accidents on roads and highways.

 

Rushing allegedly was paid for approximately 160 hours of overtime, which he justified by writing and submitting 29 false and fraudulent traffic citation for people who did not exist and events that did not happen. He ticketed drivers after they drove away from traffic stops, often without their knowledge because he created false moving violation citations that described their vehicles as unattended, parked, and inoperable. He unlawfully accessed law enforcement databases to obtain driver information for the citations and also used phony dates of birth and forged signatures.

 

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

 

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