Former Tennessee police officer accused of claiming more than $8K of false overtime

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A former police officer in Tennessee is accused of submitting false overtime reports that totaled more than $8,000, state officials said Thursday.

Joshua Robert Smith, who worked for the Knoxville Police Department, was indicted after an investigation revealed he submitted overtime requests 98 times for 272 hours he did not work, the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office said in a news release. The investigation revealed that Smith was paid at least $8,473 between Feb. 25, 2017, and Feb. 9, 2019, the release said.

Smith told officials he requested the overtime to help pay medical bills, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported.

Smith, who joined the Knoxville Police Department in 2008, resigned from the force on May 30, 2019, according to the release. Earlier this month, Smith was indicted by the Knox County Grand Jury on one count of theft over $2,500, one count of forgery and one count of official misconduct, the News Sentinel reported.

According to the news release, Smith also drove a marked police vehicle in order to work a second job unrelated to the Knoxville Police Department, which is a violation of department policies.

“Employers must provide adequate oversight of overtime requests and payments,” Comptroller Justin P. Wilson said in a statement. “I’m encouraged that KPD has indicated they are doing more to provide improved oversight in this area.”

Cox Media Group