BOSTON — A new report says the payroll for an entire Massachusetts State Police division has been hidden from public view for years, and it’s sparking new questions for a state agency that is already under scrutiny for an overtime scandal.
Boston 25 News was at Logan Airport Monday morning where nearly 80 percent of troopers working in that division are making more than Gov. Charlie Baker.
>> PREVIOUS: State Police troopers under investigation for overtime abuse scandal
That information comes from a disclosure of overtime pay for Troop F, which oversees Logan Airport.
Payroll records for the 140-trooper division have been kept hidden from the public, but some of those numbers are coming to light.
"I think it was clearly deliberate for some reason. I don't know what that reason was, it was in 2010," said Baker.
Comptroller Tom Shack told Boston 25 News anchor Kerry Kavanaugh he was unaware the information was missing from the public website until the Boston Globe brought it to their attention.
"State troopers, as state employees, should be accounted for," said Shack.
According to records obtained by Boston 25 News, Troop F accounted for more than $32.5 million in spending last year.
At least 79 percent of the 142 troopers assigned to the division in 2017 made more than Baker, who earned nearly $152,000 last year.
And 14 Troop F members earned more money in overtime pay than their base salary.
Trooper Thomas Coffey earned the most at $351,773 - more than $137,000 came from overtime and nearly $50,000 in "other pay."
Trooper Neil Calnan earned more than $157,000 in overtime for a total salary of more than $309,000.
Troop F is paid by the Massachusetts Port Authority. Boston 25 News reached out to Massport for comment:
"This compensation information has been provided publicly to media in the past, and has been filed with the Comptroller's office in a different form. This information will now be provided on the Comptroller's website consistent with the practices of the State Police."
Kavanaugh asked Gov. Baker if there should be limits on how much overtime troopers can earn.
"There's a limit on how many hours they can work. They can't work more than 85 hours per week, but as part of the Colonel's review of all overtime, across State Police, that's one of the issues she's looking into," said Baker.
Baker says the state's largest law enforcement agency has some work to do to regain public credibility.
"I'd certainly be the first to agree that it's important for the State Police to get its act together. And I would argue some of the actions taken by the new Colonel are directly designed to address some of those issues," said Baker.
This year hasn’t been off to a great start for Massachusetts State Police.
Last week it was announced a number of state troopers are going to be investigated after an audit uncovered discrepancies between actual hours worked and overtime paid to troopers in Troop E.
>> PREVIOUS: Colonel: MSP troopers will be investigated for overtime pay discrepancies
Col. Kerry Gilpin said troopers could face suspension without pay based on the results of the hearings and criminal charges could follow if rules were violated.