Scranton Cop Jailed for $17,831 in Housing Complex Shift Scam

A former Scranton police officer and union president has been sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to pay $17,831 in restitution for a brazen scheme to scam overtime pay for fake shifts at low-income housing complexes.

Paul Helring, 48, was handed down his sentence by United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani on June 4, 2024, for the offense of Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds.

According to prosecutors, Helring, who served as the coordinator of the Scranton Police Department’s extra duty overtime program, knowingly obtained over $5,000 in compensation by claiming to work extra duty patrol shifts at local housing complexes, but in reality, he did not work those shifts.

The investigation found that Helring claimed to work 526 hours of overtime that he never actually worked, netting him over $17,000 in ill-gotten gains. In addition to his prison time and restitution, Helring was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 and complete 100 hours of community service as part of his supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Public Corruption Task Force with assistance from the Office of Inspector General within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffery St John and Phillip J. Caraballo prosecuted the case.

Helring’s actions are a slap in the face to honest law enforcement officers who work hard to protect and serve their communities. His crimes have undermined public trust in the police department and will not be tolerated.

The sentencing of Paul Helring serves as a reminder that those in positions of power who abuse their authority will be held accountable for their actions.