Norwich PBA President Accused Of Stealing Thousands: State Police

NORWICH, CT — The former president of the Norwich Police Benevolent Association (PBA) has been charged with stealing more than $3,000 in funds from the organization, according to state police.

The state police's Central District Major Crime Squad began investigating allegations against former president Ryan O'Connell in January 2022.

O'Connell, 42, turned himself in to state police Troop I in Bethany on Monday after learning of a warrant out for his arrest. He was charged with third-degree larceny and released on a promise to appear in Norwich Superior Court on Feb. 27.

The investigation began after a Norwich police sergeant wrote to a deputy chief in January 2022 stating that he had recently discovered the PBA had low funds, according to an arrest warrant.

The sergeant reviewed the PBA's bank transactions and found that several had no legitimate business purpose for the PBA. In a review of the transactions with PBA executive board members, O'Connell admitted to using the account on occasion for personal reasons, with the estimated total to be in excess of $1,000, the arrest warrant states. O'Connell turned in the PBA debit card and resigned the next day.

The investigation marked transactions O'Connell made of $6,867 that the PBA's executive members deemed suspicious. There were also transactions "deemed possibly/unsure if used for a PBA purpose in the amount of $9,041," according to the arrest warrant.

O'Connell's attorney, Robert Britt, responded to a request from the investigation to explain the expenses. O'Connell felt his explanations accounted for $14,339 of the $15,909 total.

However, the investigation found that O'Connell stole $3,168 in PBA funds from March 2019 to December 2021 in 92 fraudulent transactions, according to the arrest warrant.

This included numerous small items such as a $12.99 monthly fee for Amazon Prime from April 2020 to December 2021, $2.13 at a Dunkin Donuts, $5 at CVS, and $9.47 at Starbucks.

It also included larger expenses, like $242.25 at Aroogas Bar and Grill in Uncasville, $268.78 at Dicks Sporting Goods in Lisbon, and $476.10 at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Uncasville.