Post by WaTcHeR on Mar 22, 2006 13:16:39 GMT -5
03/23/2006 - WHITE PLAINS — The Westchester County police department's top female officer is facing 122 departmental charges for alleged fraud involving disability benefits, according to a summary of charges obtained by The Journal News.
Westchester Police Commissioner Thomas Belfiore brought the charges against Capt. Barbara Annis, 53, who is now facing a disciplinary hearing that could result in her being fined, suspended or fired. The hearing, which is being held behind closed doors, began Friday at the county office building. A follow-up session has yet to be scheduled.
Annis, who injured her back when she fell off a chair in the 1990s, is accused of abusing the disability compensation system by repeatedly filing false claims that she was receiving physical therapy. On multiple occasions, she reported she was going to Club Fit in Jefferson Valley, allegedly leaving during her tour of duty but not showing up at the sessions, county documents show. She also lied about working overtime, according to the charges, which involve abuses allegedly committed between May and August.
Attorney John Grant, who is representing Annis, and county spokeswoman Susan Tolchin would not comment on the case, which is exempt from public scrutiny.
Annis, who earns an annual salary of $118,730, has been working for the county Department of Public Safety since 1984. Originally assigned to the detective unit, she was promoted to sergeant in 1988, lieutenant in 1991 and captain in 1997.
One of three captains, she is the fifth-highest ranked officer in the department and handles primarily administrative duties.
In 1996, Annis, then a lieutenant, won more than $400,000 in a sexual-discrimination lawsuit she filed against former county commissioners of public safety Anthony Mosca and Ernest Colaneri. She charged that, while working under Mosca, she was assigned to undesirable posts, denied overtime, yelled at in front of other officers, and subjected to verbal and physical altercations with a male sergeant. She claimed Colaneri either supported the behavior or participated in the acts.
Westchester Police Commissioner Thomas Belfiore brought the charges against Capt. Barbara Annis, 53, who is now facing a disciplinary hearing that could result in her being fined, suspended or fired. The hearing, which is being held behind closed doors, began Friday at the county office building. A follow-up session has yet to be scheduled.
Annis, who injured her back when she fell off a chair in the 1990s, is accused of abusing the disability compensation system by repeatedly filing false claims that she was receiving physical therapy. On multiple occasions, she reported she was going to Club Fit in Jefferson Valley, allegedly leaving during her tour of duty but not showing up at the sessions, county documents show. She also lied about working overtime, according to the charges, which involve abuses allegedly committed between May and August.
Attorney John Grant, who is representing Annis, and county spokeswoman Susan Tolchin would not comment on the case, which is exempt from public scrutiny.
Annis, who earns an annual salary of $118,730, has been working for the county Department of Public Safety since 1984. Originally assigned to the detective unit, she was promoted to sergeant in 1988, lieutenant in 1991 and captain in 1997.
One of three captains, she is the fifth-highest ranked officer in the department and handles primarily administrative duties.
In 1996, Annis, then a lieutenant, won more than $400,000 in a sexual-discrimination lawsuit she filed against former county commissioners of public safety Anthony Mosca and Ernest Colaneri. She charged that, while working under Mosca, she was assigned to undesirable posts, denied overtime, yelled at in front of other officers, and subjected to verbal and physical altercations with a male sergeant. She claimed Colaneri either supported the behavior or participated in the acts.