UPLAND, PA — A Delaware County police chief is facing multiple criminal charges after investigators say he collected more than $50,000 in overtime and extra-duty pay for shifts he did not actually work. Prosecutors say the case against Upland Borough Police Chief Michael Irey began after fellow officers raised concerns about overtime entries that did not match his presence on the job.
The allegations center on claimed shifts that other officers say Irey did not appear for. Authorities say the matter grew into a formal investigation, which later found that overtime hours had been submitted and paid even though the work was not performed. Irey was arrested in New Jersey and is now awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.
Complaints from eight officers triggered the investigation in December
The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office said the inquiry started on Dec. 5, 2025, after eight officers from the Upland Borough Police Department filed complaints against Irey. Those officers alleged that he was submitting overtime and extra-duty hours without actually being on the posts he had signed up to cover.
According to the complaints, the officers had grown suspicious because Irey repeatedly failed to show up for shifts that were supposed to be covered by overtime. One officer was able to check the overtime claims in the department’s timekeeping system, which helped support the internal concerns before the case moved to investigators.
The complaints did not just focus on missing work. Officers also said they believed the chief was making inaccurate submissions across multiple assignments, which prompted a closer look at how the overtime hours were approved and recorded.
Bar sightings and license plate readers added to investigators' concerns
Investigators say several officers reported seeing Irey at bars in Delaware County during times when he was supposed to be working overtime. License plate reader data also placed his borough-issued vehicle near the same bars, adding another layer to the inquiry.
Those reported sightings helped investigators compare where Irey was supposed to be with where his police vehicle was located. Prosecutors say that review was part of the evidence showing the chief was not working the overtime hours for which he was paid.
The District Attorney’s Office said the investigation ultimately concluded that Irey received more than $50,000 in overtime pay for hours he did not work. Officials have not described every shift in detail, but they say the records and observations were enough to move forward with charges.
Prosecutors filed theft, obstruction and forgery charges
Irey has been charged with theft by unlawful taking, obstruction of justice, forgery and other related offenses. The charges reflect both the money allegedly taken and the way investigators say the overtime submissions were handled.
An arrest warrant was issued on Nov. 5, and Irey was taken into custody in New Jersey on Nov. 9. He remains in custody while awaiting extradition back to Pennsylvania, where the case will continue.
The filing of the charges marked a major turn in what began as an internal complaint among officers. Prosecutors have not said how long the alleged scheme lasted, but the dollar amount cited in the case points to a substantial payroll loss.
Upland Borough's overtime programs cover school traffic and DUI patrols
According to the District Attorney’s Office, the Upland Police Department has access to grant funding that helps pay officers who complete overtime work. Some of that work includes traffic assignments before and after school hours at Chester Community Charter School and assistance for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Another overtime detail is a weekend assignment called the Roving DUI Patrol. Those duties are among the tasks that can qualify for extra pay and are intended to support public safety and traffic enforcement in the area.
Because the overtime slots are tied to public duties, the case has drawn attention to how those assignments are tracked and verified. Prosecutors say the department’s grant-supported overtime system was part of the backdrop for the alleged payroll abuse.
The case remains open as authorities seek more information
Officials say the investigation is still ongoing. That means prosecutors and investigators are continuing to review the circumstances around the overtime submissions, the alleged payroll records and the information officers shared with detectives.
The District Attorney’s Office asked anyone with information about the case to contact Sergeant Edward Rosen at 610-891-4700. No additional details about the next court steps were included in the announcement.
For now, the case adds a criminal dimension to what began as a workplace complaint inside a suburban Pennsylvania police department. Authorities say the focus remains on how the overtime was claimed, who approved it and how much money was paid out before the allegations came to light.
