The commander of the Massachusetts State Police says an internal audit has found possible cases of troopers being paid overtime for shifts they did not work.



Col. Kerry Gilpin said the missing overtime shifts were as few as one and as high as 100 per trooper. She could not put a dollar amount on the overtime discrepancy.

A total of 21 troopers are under investigation. Nineteen will have duty status hearings scheduled in the near future. One trooper is already retired, and another is already suspended without pay on another matter. No names were released.

Depending on the outcome of the hearings, Gilpin said the troopers could face discipline up to and including suspension without pay while the investigation continues.

The audit looked at 2016 payroll figures and included only members of Troop E, which is responsible for patrolling the Massachusetts Turnpike and tunnels.



The audit was started after state police, as the result of an internal affairs investigation, determined the need to review payments to a handful of Troop E members for certain overtime traffic enforcement shifts - known as Accident Incidence Reduction Effort patrols - on the Massachusetts Turnpike.



The results of the audit have been forwarded to Attorney General Maura Healey, who will review it and decide whether to file criminal charges.

"Integrity, honesty and accountability are core values of the Massachusetts State Police," Gilpin said. "For us to fulfill our mission as a police agency, we must have public trust."