N.J. state police are investigating the apparent loss of $15,000 from a 2003 Father’s Day event for state prison officers at Six Flags Great Adventure. Angry union members switched their allegiance from Police Benevolent Assn. Local 105 to Lodge 200 of the Fraternal Order of Police in response. State police began their investigation after a member sent a letter to the U.S. Dept. of Justice and the N.J. dept. of Criminal Justice.
According to the letter, The PBA purchased tickets from Six Flags at a discounted rate, which exec. bd. members and union vice presidents sold throughout the state at $25 ea. Union accountant Ed Brady said that past event chairmen had deposited ticket sales within 10 days of receipt, or turned the funds over to the union’s treasurer or fin. secy. But acc. to the dissident member, local PBA pres. Ed Murphy said that the money had been placed in a safe. The Father’s Day funds were not deposited in the bank until Nov. of 2003.
Brady said that 471 tickets worth $11,775 could not be accounted for. $3,280 had not been paid on tickets whose sales were accounted for. The PBA’s judiciary cmte. found Murphy and frmr. exec. v.p. Patrick O’Brien guilty of failing to discharge the duties of their ofc., but found them not guilty of knowingly mishandling the funds. the 2 were suspended for 30 days from the union and barred from holding office for 3 yrs. [Trenton Courier-Post, 6/21/04]