Audit finds some firefighters overpaid

ALBANY, NY (WIVB) - New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has issued a report critical of the Lackawanna Fire Department.

A state audit found that firefighters swapping shifts in Lackawanna did not always work their required hours, among other miscalculations.

WEB EXTRA | Read the full NYS Audit

The audit found 28 firefighters who were paid, in total, over $80,000 for hours they did not work.  Those firefighters failed to work over 3,000 hours over a six-year period that the audit examined after swapping shifts with other firefighters.

Four firefighters consistently did not work their required hours over the six year period and comprised approximately 61% of the total negative hours the audit uncovered.

One firefighter was cited as not making up over 740 hours – or more than 30 24-hour shifts.  The report states he received over $18,000 in wages he was not entitled to because he failed to work the required number of hours.

The audit also found that some firefighters were credited with more holiday and other leave time than required that resulted in overpayments of approximately $39,900.