A now-suspended Worcester police officer accused of stealing $53,000 of off-duty detail and overtime pay for shifts he did not work pleaded not guilty in Worcester Superior Court Thursday.
Colby Turner was arraigned Thursday on six counts of larceny over $1,200, one count of forgery, one count of making a false claim to a government agency and one count of being a common and notorious thief. He pleaded not guilty to all nine charges.
Prosecutors did not ask for bail and he was released on his own personal recognizance.
Turner, who has worked for the department about five years, was first arrested on Aug. 1, 2022 after a warrant was issued by Worcester District Court. His case has since moved into Worcester Superior Court.
The police department became aware of possible criminal activity related to Turner’s off-duty assignments on July 21, 2022, according to a press statement from the department, and subsequently began an investigation.
The department claims it found probable cause to believe Turner had requested and received payment for fictitious off-duty assignments.
In court documents, the state claims that from Oct. 14, 2021 to July 20, 2022, Turner submitted more than 150 off-duty assignment slips claiming to have worked detail assignments at Worcester businesses and sought payment for “those fictitious hours worked.”
Police have alleged those assignment...
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