The Montgomery County police officer who the county says misused public funds to sell guns to his fellow officers is now embroiled in a worker’s compensation fight that could cost taxpayers as much as $21,000, The Washington Examiner has learned.
The county has taken a rare step in denying the worker’s compensation claim filed by Det. Aaron Bailey, who said he hurt both his knees when he fell during a tactical training session, according to county staff. The county denies about 5 percent of worker’s compensation claims, staff said.
The Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission is the next step for the claim. The county has set aside $17,000 to pay Bailey’s claim if ordered to so, and $4,000 for litigation expenses. The commission routinely sides with employees, staff said.
State law says that any ambiguity in a claim must be resolved in favor of the employee, and county officials have routinely complained that the workers’ compensation system is rife with fraud. Workers’ compensation claims cost the county about $16.5 million a year.
Bailey’s lawyer did not return calls seeking comment.
According to county records, Bailey returned to work the same day of his injury and required no initial medical treatment. Sgt. Al Uy, Bailey’s supervisor, signed off on the claim. He retired shortly after the claim was filed and could not be reached for comment.
Uy and Bailey co-owned a police training company, Global Law Enforcement Advisory Group, that has been investigated by county officials for allegedly using taxpayer funds to give away expensive flashlights to participants.
And Bailey is being sued for running a successor to Global, Applied Sciences for Public Safety, that the county says used public funds to sell participants semiautomatic weapons at steep discounts.
The county paid about $1,500 per participant for more than 200 public safety officials to take Bailey’s classes through a tuition assistance program that has since been suspended. Participants could buy Glock handguns worth more than $500 for only $99 or semiautomatic rifles for a similar discount. The county is suing Bailey for nearly $1 million, saying he committed fraud.
Bailey has denied any wrongdoing, and his lawyer said in court records that Bailey was acting as a good businessman by using “incentives” to increase the volume of customers.
County Attorney Marc Hansen has said the county has not ruled out taking action against Global depending on what it uncovers in its lawsuit against Applied Sciences.
