Police Sergeant Accused of Fraud Faces Losing Pay

Thursday, January 7, 2016 | 0

Selectmen in a small Masschussetts city could decide Thursday to take further disciplinary action against a police sergeant accused of workers' compensation fraud.

Sgt. Kris Phillips, indicted on charges he faked a work injury after claiming he was hit by a car at a shopping mall, could be placed on unpaid leave following a meeting of Hingham's selectmen.

Town Administrator Ted Alexiades said he and the town's governing body will hold an executive session, then an open meeting, during which selectmen can vote on the matter, the Patriot Ledger reports.

On Dec. 16, a Plymouth County grand jury indicted Phillips on four counts of filing fraudulent claims following what the sergeant claimed was an incident at the shopping mall in Hingham on July 17, 2015. 

Phillips claimed he was struck by a car while on patrol. An internal police department investigation concluded he fabricated his injury claim.

He is on administrative leave but continuing to draw his pay, reported by the Patriot Ledger to be about $2,000 a week. State Ethics Commission rules state towns can place indicted municipal employees on unpaid leave.