Mass. State Police Investigating Pay For Unworked Patrol Shifts

Massachusetts State Police are investigating evidence that troopers within a unit assigned to patrol the Massachusetts Turnpike to reduce injuries stemming from accidents were getting paid for shifts they did not work.

The law enforcement agency announced the investigation Tuesday spurred byan internal audit of Accident Injury Reduction Effort (AIRE) patrol shifts within Troop E. The audit, according to the state police, found that assigned shifts were not always covered, but troopers were still getting paid for shifts they did not work.

The investigation will be conducted "in consultation" with Attorney General Maura Healey's office.

"The findings of the internal audit were sufficient to merit further investigation," the state police said in a statement. "The Massachusetts State Police will determine the scope of the AIRE patrol discrepancies and will work with the Attorney General’s Office to decide appropriate action."