Three local state troopers were reported for falsely claiming they worked night-shifts to collect a pay differential. Their reporters say blowback fell on them.
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — State police leadership retaliated against two supervisors who reported that three members in their Luzerne County-based troop stole money by falsifying their schedules to collect the differential paid to night-shift employees, a federal whistleblower complaint claimed.
The complaint brought Monday by Capt. Patrick Dougherty and Lt. Derek Felsman claim that their superiors stripped them of responsibility, demoted them, and deprived them of professional development for bringing to internal affairs what they found: that a sergeant and two corporals in Troop P lied on their schedules to collect 5% more pay.
The complaint names as defendants Governor Josh Shapiro, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and brass from the state police: Maj. Norman Cramer and Lt. Col George Bivens, who will soon take the helm as acting commissioner.
"Presumably, law enforcement includes enforcing the law when it comes to the actions of members of the State Police," attorney Mark Schwartz, who represents Dougherty and Felsman, wrote in the complaint.
Through a spokesperson, the state police declined to comment on pending litigation. A representative for Shaprio's office did not respond to a request for comment.
Troop P covers the upper half of Luzerne County, as well as Wyoming, Sullivan, and Bradford counties.
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