Indicted Police Officer Suspended Without Pay

After being indicted for insurance fraud last month, Sgt. Kris Phillips has lost his pay and benefits.

The selectmen voted to take away the police officer’s pay during an executive session Thursday night, according to the Patriot Ledger.

Philips was receiving about $2,000 a week since last July for an injury he claimed he obtained while on duty at the Hingham Shipyard.

Also Thursday night, the selectmen voted to authorize the appointment of an independent hearing officer for the hearing. The officer will be required to submit a finding of facts and a recommendation for discipline if necessary to the selectmen.

In December, Hingham Police Sgt. Kris Phillips was indicted and charged with witness intimidation by misleading a police officer, perjury, and two counts of filing a false insurance claim.

According to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office, Phillips was working a police detail at the Hingham Shipyard retail complex when he alleged that he was struck and sustained significant injuries by a person backing a car out of a parking spot.

A police investigation revealed that Phillips’ claim of being struck and the manner of the incident were fabricated. Today’s indictments allege that Phillips misled Hingham officers responding to the accident and filed false reports of injuries as a result of the alleged accident and fraudulently received health insurance coverage for treatment from Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

He was additionally indicted on a perjury charge for his false application for job benefits submitted to the Gowrie Claims Group.