Probation Officers Face Employee Fraud Charges In California

Police officers in California put their lives on the line every single day. This is why it is important that they are properly taken care of when injured while on the job. Nevertheless, police officers are human, and not all of them are completely honest when it comes to workplace injuries. Controversy has engulfed one locale police department after several officers were arrested for employee fraud.

One former deputy probation officer was recently ordered by a court to return benefits received from fraudulent workers’ compensation claims. The 30-year-old claimed that she suffered an injury while restraining a juvenile during the course of duty. When investigators looked into her claims, they apparently realized the woman was not even at work on the day that she claimed to have been injured.

Another probation department employee was arrested recently, and her case is pending. She was arrested in September for allegedly collecting $1,000 in fraudulent workers’ compensation benefits. The woman pleaded not guilty to two felony charges of insurance fraud. She could end up spending time behind bars if she is convicted.

Although these instances of apparent insurance fraud in California affected public funds, employee fraud can also be detrimental to private companies. Employers may benefit by investigating suspicious reports of injuries at work to determine whether employee fraud is involved. Some workers exaggerate injuries, while others were never injured in the first place. In certain cases, it may be necessary for an employer to take legal action to protect a business against fraudulent workers’ compensation claims.