Riding the Gravy Train? NJ Transit Staff Implicated in Overtime Fraud Investigation

Riding the Gravy Train? NJ Transit Staff Implicated in Overtime Fraud Investigation

NJ Transit Cops Under Investigation for Alleged Overtime Scam

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office has launched a formal investigation into serious allegations that NJ Transit police officers may have falsified official records to inflate their overtime earnings.

This unfolding probe, spearheaded by the prosecutor’s professional standards bureau, stems from an earlier internal affairs investigation disclosed in August 2024.

Sources familiar with the case say the suspected scheme centers around the Newark Penn Station division and dates back to 2021. Officers are accused of skipping court appearances while filing fraudulent reports to secure extra pay.

The case raises troubling questions about oversight within the transit police and could result in disciplinary action—or criminal charges—depending on the findings of the ongoing investigation.Efforts to obtain internal investigation findings were denied by NJ Transit, prompting a legal challenge from Gannett, parent company of NorthJersey.com. The denial cited the absence of legal requirements for disclosure.

A representative from the NJ Transit Police Benevolent Association has strongly denied the accusations, emphasizing full cooperation by officers and asserting no policy or legal violations occurred.