A union representing law enforcement officers in 200 communities across New England has cut ties with an affiliated labor group and two former executives, claiming to have uncovered a “significant” misappropriation of funds.
The New England Police Benevolent Association entrusted “a significant amount” of funds over the last three years to the United Federation of Police Officers, Thomas Turco, who took over as executive director of the NEPBA in May, wrote in a letter to the union’s members in late August.
“It appears that trust was abused,” Turco wrote.
NEPBA funds were “intercepted, misappropriated without authorization and converted to personal use,” he added.
The NEPBA reported its findings ”the proper authorities,” Turco told the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, which first reported on the letter.
His comments did not specify who those authorities were.
A representative for the NEPBA declined further comment and referred questions to the group’s lawyer, who did not answer a voicemail from MassLive. The UFPO, who Turco described as a New York-based group, also did not respond to requests for comment.
Turco formerly served in Gov. Charlie Baker’s cabinet as secretary of public safety and security, where he oversaw the Massachusetts State Police. He left the post in 2021 and took over as the union’s executive director in May.
According to Turco, two NEPBA officials “independently arranged on their own to gain control” of the UFPO, whose website lists an address in Washington, D.C.
The UFPO at the time had “modest annual revenue and expenses,” he said.
Under an affiliation agreement the two unnamed officials arranged beginning in spring 2022, the NEPBA entrusted about $13,000 per month to the UFPO. In return, the UFPO promised representation, lobbying and other services.
Most of the promises were not delivered, Turco claimed. He said the UFPO tax returns for 2021 to 2023 show no spending on lobbying.
In 2022, funds the NEPBA had designated for the UFPO were diverted for personal use, Turco wrote. “Through much effort,” the money has since been recovered.
Additionally, the NEPBA suspects that separate dues revenue sent to the UFPO was “used/authorized by UFPO officials for personal use,” Turco wrote. “In many instances, funds were transferred to private bank accounts, later characterized as ‘personal loans,’ and were also diverted to pay for services unrelated to NEPBA.”
Turco also said the UFPO has not provided a “proper explanation for where or how NEPBA dues were spent.” He pointed to nearly $200,000 allocated for “Investment Management Fees” by the UFPO on its 2023 tax forms, about two-thirds of its expenses that year.
The two unnamed NEPBA officials held the positions of executive director/president and treasurer in both labor groups, Turco wrote.
He said the organization had fully disaffiliated from UFPO and separated itself “from certain NEPBA officials.” He also said the union established “new safeguards and financial controls … to ensure complete transparency and security moving forward.”
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