$36K In Bogus Overtime Pay Lands Delco Park Police Lt Felonies: DA

SPRINGFIELD, PA — A lieutenant in Delaware County’s Park Police Department has been charged with felony crimes after authorities said he got more than $36,000 in overtime pay based on fraudulent time records.

District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said Christopher Cahall, 42, of Springfield, was charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, and receiving stolen property, all of which are felonies.

The DA's office alleges Cahall got $36,122.41 in overtime compensation based upon the submission of fraudulent time records.

Delaware County Park Police Chief John Diehl on Aug. 2 contacted Detectives Edward Rosen and Robert Lythgoe of the Criminal Investigation Division’s Special Investigations Unit regarding a possible theft.

Diehl told investigators that in January 2022 Cahall was put in charge of inputting payroll for the Park Police.

In July 2023 assignments were changed, and Cahall was removed from payroll duties and replaced by a different member of the Park Police.

During the transition, no sick time had been reported by Cahall, despite the fact that a Park Police Captain recalled that Cahall had, in fact, been absent for at least two days.

That discrepancy triggered an internal audit, and it was determined that a large amount of overtime had been paid to Cahall, the DA's office said.

Rosen and Lythgoe examined pay period sheets, timesheets, printouts from the payroll system, and shift logs, and the Controller’s office supplied paystubs.

This revealed many instances where Cahall was paid overtime for extra shifts that he had not worked, as well as for holidays the defendant did not work, the DA's office alleges.

In all, it was determined that the defendant was paid $34,568.81 in stolen salary and $1,553.60 for holidays that he did not work.

On Monday, Rosen and Lythgoe interviewed Cahall.

During that interview, Cahall admitted to the thefts.

Cahall was released on $100,000 unsecured bail and is scheduled for an Aug. 25 preliminary hearing, court records show.