Six Baltimore City Police officers in the Eastern District were suspended with pay Tuesday morning pending an Internal Affairs investigation into alleged overtime fraud, police officials confirmed.
The suspended officers include two sergeants who work in the district?s detective unit, and four other officers.
Police officials confirmed the suspensions but would not comment on the investigation pending its outcome.
“They were suspended over allegations of receiving overtime they were not entitled to,” said Paul Blair, president of the police union. “But these are just allegations until the investigation is complete.”
Misuse of overtime could be fraud, Blair said, and can result in criminal charges.
Blair said Tuesday afternoon that he had not spoken with any of the suspended officers.
Baltimore City Councilman Ken Harris said he would like to see a review of the policy controlling overtime, which in fiscal year 2006 cost the Police Department $17 million.
“I?ve been trying to bring attention to this issue for years,” he said.
