Detroit Fire Department Investigator Embezzled Over $120,000 by Falsifying Time Sheets for Years, Official Report Reveals
A Detroit fire lieutenant who investigates arson cases has been accused of falsifying his time sheets to embezzle over $120,000 from the city. The allegations against Lt. James Hill-Harris were uncovered by a recent investigation by the Office of Inspector General (OIG), which found that he "fraudulently overstated" his hours worked.
Hill-Harris's deception went on for years, dating back to at least 2018. His time sheets showed him working hours that did not match key-card activity, cellphone data, or daily logs from the Detroit Public Safety Headquarters. In some instances, investigators discovered that Hill-Harris was actually at home or outside of Detroit during hours he claimed to be on duty.
Despite being well-known within his unit for attendance problems, Hill-Harris's supervisors failed to take action against him. The investigation found that two supervisors, Chief Dennis Richardson and Captain Rance Dixon, "abused their authority" by neglecting their supervisory responsibilities, which allowed the embezzlement to occur.
Hill-Harris claimed 622 hours of overtime between 2022 and 2023, including an impressive 43 hours in a single week. However, investigators estimated that he may have received over $120,800 in income tied to hours he did not work.
In response to the allegations, MCOLES (Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards) permanently revoked Hill-Harris's law-enforcement certification for "egregious misconduct involving his lack of accountability." The Detroit Police Department had also sought to strip him of his certification before the OIG report was released.
Despite this severe punishment, some argue that Hill-Harris's circumstances led to his downfall. His father died fighting a deliberately set fire in 2008, which inspired him to become an arson investigator in 2011. However, his attorney claims that Hill-Harris is being singled out for engaging in practices that are common within the unit.
The investigation also found widespread acceptance and sometimes mandated practices of remote work, work stacking, and clocking in/out from outside the City of Detroit network. However, this lack of oversight and accountability allowed Hill-Harris's deception to go undetected for years.
In response to the OIG report, the Detroit Fire Commissioner, Chuck Simms, has taken steps to prevent overtime fraud. He hired a full-time civilian payroll manager, requires prior approval for overtime, conducts biweekly audits to determine if there are any payroll discrepancies, and mandates that employees physically clock in and out.
Inspector General Kamau C. Marable praised the work of the Detroit police department, saying their investigation was instrumental in helping identify time fraud and protect integrity in City operations. The investigation is a stark reminder of the importance of accountability within government agencies and the need for robust oversight to prevent similar cases from occurring in the future.
A Detroit fire lieutenant who investigates arson cases has been accused of falsifying his time sheets to embezzle over $120,000 from the city. The allegations against Lt. James Hill-Harris were uncovered by a recent investigation by the Office of Inspector General (OIG), which found that he "fraudulently overstated" his hours worked.
Hill-Harris's deception went on for years, dating back to at least 2018. His time sheets showed him working hours that did not match key-card activity, cellphone data, or daily logs from the Detroit Public Safety Headquarters. In some instances, investigators discovered that Hill-Harris was actually at home or outside of Detroit during hours he claimed to be on duty.
Despite being well-known within his unit for attendance problems, Hill-Harris's supervisors failed to take action against him. The investigation found that two supervisors, Chief Dennis Richardson and Captain Rance Dixon, "abused their authority" by neglecting their supervisory responsibilities, which allowed the embezzlement to occur.
Hill-Harris claimed 622 hours of overtime between 2022 and 2023, including an impressive 43 hours in a single week. However, investigators estimated that he may have received over $120,800 in income tied to hours he did not work.
In response to the allegations, MCOLES (Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards) permanently revoked Hill-Harris's law-enforcement certification for "egregious misconduct involving his lack of accountability." The Detroit Police Department had also sought to strip him of his certification before the OIG report was released.
Despite this severe punishment, some argue that Hill-Harris's circumstances led to his downfall. His father died fighting a deliberately set fire in 2008, which inspired him to become an arson investigator in 2011. However, his attorney claims that Hill-Harris is being singled out for engaging in practices that are common within the unit.
The investigation also found widespread acceptance and sometimes mandated practices of remote work, work stacking, and clocking in/out from outside the City of Detroit network. However, this lack of oversight and accountability allowed Hill-Harris's deception to go undetected for years.
In response to the OIG report, the Detroit Fire Commissioner, Chuck Simms, has taken steps to prevent overtime fraud. He hired a full-time civilian payroll manager, requires prior approval for overtime, conducts biweekly audits to determine if there are any payroll discrepancies, and mandates that employees physically clock in and out.
Inspector General Kamau C. Marable praised the work of the Detroit police department, saying their investigation was instrumental in helping identify time fraud and protect integrity in City operations. The investigation is a stark reminder of the importance of accountability within government agencies and the need for robust oversight to prevent similar cases from occurring in the future.
and what's up with his supervisors just turning a blind eye to all this? did they not notice anythin or was it just too convenient 4 him 2 get away w/it lol
Can't believe these cops think they can just cook the books and walk away with $120k. Like, what's next? Are we gonna start paying 'em for playing golf on company time too? 
The whole thing stinks, especially when you consider how many hours Hill-Harris said he worked vs. actual activity tracking. 43 hours of "overtime" in one week is just wild. Anyways, good that the Fire Commissioner is taking steps to clean up shop, but still can't shake the feeling that this could've happened anywhere else too... 
$120k is a lotta 
It's crazy ppl are makin' moves 2 avoid accountability, like Hill-Harris did 
police & fire departments need 2 be held 2 high standards, not just 4 themselves, but also 4 their supervisors 
Chief Richardson & Captain Dixon should've stepped in sooner, or at least done more 2 prevent this embezzlement 
widespread acceptance of remote work, work stacking, etc. is weird 
some say Hill-Harris got what was comin' 2 him, but I think he should've gotten more 
idk how someone who's supposed to be investigating crimes can do this to their own department and get away with it for so long. seems like there was a total lack of accountability and oversight, even among supervisors. glad that the commissioner is taking steps to prevent overtime fraud now tho 
maybe we'll see more people held accountable for their actions in the future?
. It's like they were just turning a blind eye to the problem.
. It's a good reminder that we need to stay vigilant and hold our leaders accountable 
.
. It's appalling that despite being well-known within his unit for attendance problems, he was able to deceive his supervisors for so long, highlighting the need for robust internal controls and regular audits.
. The Detroit Fire Commissioner's efforts to prevent overtime fraud are a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to prevent similar cases from occurring in the future 
.
like, he was investigating arson cases and you'd think that would make him trustworthy but nope! His supervisors were also in on it which is super sus. Anyway, I'm glad they're taking steps to prevent this from happening again tho 
And his supervisor supervisors just stood around while he did it? 
. I mean, 43 hours of overtime in one week? Give me a break! 
. The fact that two supervisors ignored their own supervisory duties is really disturbing. And now they're just letting Hill-Harris off with a slap on the wrist? 
Not buying it. At least Detroit Fire Commissioner Simms is taking steps to prevent this from happening again, so some good coming out of this scandal 