Suffolk cop accused of falsifying time sheets
A Suffolk police sergeant was arrested on theft and corruption charges Tuesday after authorities said he stole more than $7,000 from the department by falsifying timesheets to collect an extra 12 paid days off.
Robert Kall, 48, of Shoreham, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday before Judge Gaetan Lozito in First District Court in Central Islip, online court records show. He was released on his own recognizance after surrendering to the district attorney's office. He has been suspended without pay.
The 12 paid days off are valued at $7,429.24, according to a news release from the district attorney's office. Kall has been a Suffolk police officer since September 2000 and a sergeant since May 2014.
Kall is accused of falsifying police records to show that he had worked 12 full shifts between Feb. 3, 2016, and July 17, 2018, the release stated. On nine days, he first recorded himself as not working and later allegedly changed attendance records to state that he had worked full shifts. He is accused of additionally reporting himself as completing three other full shifts despite not showing up for work.
The district attorney's office examined cell site records of Kall's cellphone, his access pass usage at the Seventh Precinct and location records of his police vehicle, authorities said.
The police department's Internal Affairs Bureau referred Kall's case to the district attorney's office after a supervisor noticed a discrepancy in the sergeant's time and attendance, Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said in the release.
“Misconduct of any kind is taken seriously and will not be tolerated in this department," Hart said. "Residents should be assured that our officers are committed to their profession and Kall’s conduct is not reflective of the Department’s dedication to service.”
Kall's Hauppauge lawyer, Anthony La Pinta, said his client, a patrol sergeant in Yaphank's Seventh Precinct, did nothing wrong, which will eventually be proved.
"Sergeant Kall did not steal or take money that he wasn't entitled to," La Pinta said. "In fact, when the time records are carefully reviewed, they will show that he is owed money for the shifts and tours that he worked."
Kall is charged with three felonies — third-degree grand larceny, first-degree falsifying business records and third-degree corrupting the government — as well as a misdemeanor offense of official misconduct, online court records snow.
He faces a maximum sentence of 2 1/3 years to 7 years in prison on the grand larceny charge, as well as a maximum possible fine of $14,858.48, according to the district attorney's office.
“Robert Kall’s alleged actions constitute a serious violation of the trust instilled in him by the Suffolk County Police Department and the public he was tasked with protecting and serving,” District Attorney Timothy Sini said in the release. “The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office will not tolerate the theft of taxpayer funds and deception by public officials.”
Kall is due to return to court on June 4.
