Charlestown police union reports possible embezzling

CHARLESTOWN – The R.I. State Police are investigating allegations that several thousand dollars have been embezzled from the police officers’ union in Charlestown.
“The complaint was filed with us last week, and it will be investigated by our Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Unit,” State Police Lt. Leroy Rose, the assistant detective commander, told Providence Business News today. “It’s very early in the investigation,” he noted.
The 18-member union represents the town’s active-duty officers who are eligible for collective bargaining. It is part of a Fraternal Order of Police lodge –Washington County Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 40, Charlestown – that also includes retired officers; an associates’ lodge is open to non-officers, as well.
But the investigation involves only money from dues paid by active-duty officers, according to Charlestown Police Lt. Patrick J. McMahon, the union’s president. “There are no public monies, no fundraising monies, only dues monies,” he told PBN.
“All I can comment to you on is that it is currently under investigation by the R.I. State Police,” McMahon said, although he did confirm that the complaint was filed by the union itself, and on further questioning added “I’m not the suspected officer.”
He declined to reveal the identity of the suspect or suspects, saying: “The suspected individual has rights under the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights.” And with the State Police investigation just beginning, McMahon said, “it would be inappropriate for us to comment on the amount.”
The Westerly Sun today set the amount allegedly embezzled at nearly $11,000.
“I think that’s what’s reported,” said Rose. But, he added: “We’ll have to do the appropriate forensic auditing and the review of the documents to see if there is a crime” – and if so, how much was taken and by whom.