HULL, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A former Hull police sergeant has been indicted in connection with stealing from the police union and the police relief association.
George Shea, 53, allegedly stole tens of thousands of dollars from the department while working as the treasurer of the Police Union, according to the attorney general's office. The Situate man was indicted by a Plymouth County Grand Jury on the charges of larceny over $250 (3 counts).
âWe allege that this former police sergeant abused his position and stole money intended to assist police officers and their families,â said AG Maura Healey. âOur office will continue to fight corruption in public agencies and pursue cases that have a detrimental effect on public confidence in our government.â
The attorney general's office started their investigation in March of last year. For 10 years, from 2004 to February 2014, Shea was the treasurer of the Hull Police Union and the Hull Police Relief Association. The association was created to pay death benefits and then later retirement stipends for members.
Shea managed the union's finances and had access to bank accounts, which were funded by donations and fundraising events.
Authorities say that between April of 2008 and February of last year, Shea wrote more than $20,000 in checks to himself from the union and association accounts. He also allegedly used both accounts to make payments for his home mortgage equaling about $13,000 and paid off more than $80,000 of his own credit card debt.
His arraignment date has not been set yet.