A Worcester police officer accused of receiving reimbursement for off-duty assignments that he did not work and a former Fitchburg State University officer were among 15 Massachusetts officers whose certifications were suspended by a new state commission.
Worcester Officer Colby Turner and Ernest Fontainte, a former Fitchburg State University officer, were among the law enforcement officers targeted by the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission.
The commission, which announced its rulings Tuesday, was established as part of the state's 2020 criminal justice reform law. It is charged with creating a mandatory certification process for police officers and a process to decertify, suspend or reprimand officers.
Turner was arrested at the police station in August on five felony charges of larceny over $1,200 and a misdemeanor charge of submitting false claims for reimbursement. He is currently on administrative leave from the Worcester Police Department.
Between Jan. 1 and July 20 of 2022, Turner is accused of submitting fictitious off-duty assignment time slips for assignments that he did not work for five businesses in Worcester, according to court records. The documents allege that the time slips appear to be in Turner's handwriting.
Turner is accused of submitting 18 time slips totaling over $3,700 for Leominster Credit Union on Shrewsbury Street, 17 time slips totaling over $5,400 for the Palladium on Main Street, 52 time slips totaling more than...
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