Assistant in State Police overtime office arrested for $9,295 in alleged false overtime claims.

An embarrassing week at the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP). The State Police agency saw one of its own civilian employees arrested for third degree larceny.

An internal investigation found that Sherry Pina, a Processing Technician in the Overtime Coordinator’s Office, was allegedly submitting overtime hours for herself while working at a second job in the private sector. In 2021, Pina submitted 247 hours of allegedly false claims for overtime pay while working overlapping hours at her second job. The total amount Pina received in pay she did not earn, according to the arrest warrant application, is $9.295.96.

During the police investigation of the alleged crime, according to the arrest warrant application, Pina confirmed that between April 2021 and November 2, 2023, when another staff member was also working on payroll information, she did not work “even one hour of overtime.” That employee, who left DESPP in 2023, voluntarily provided a sworn written statement to detectives. That statement appears to have been helpful in the investigation. Pina told her former colleague that her arrival in the office caused Pina to stop working overtime and caused her to find a second job working for an answering service from home at night.

Pina agreed to meet with a detective on December 20, 2023. She was accompanied by union representative Robert Raczka. After answering questions, Pina declined after consulting with her union representative to provide a written statement.

Published March 20, 2024.