Auditor General Finds Problems With Tullytown Borough Police Rehire
by Alex Lloyd Gross
TULLYTOWN, PA — A publicly released compliance audit by the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General found that Tullytown Borough continued paying a disability pension to a police officer after rehiring the individual, despite governing rules that prohibit such payments once an officer returns to duty.
The March 18, 2026 audit report of the borough’s police pension plan identified a single, but significant, finding involving a disability pension recipient who was later brought back to work as a part-time officer.
According to the audit, the officer had previously been granted a service related “total and permanent disability” pension following a line-of-duty injury.
That designation, under both the borough’s ordinance and the applicable collective bargaining agreement, requires that the individual be unable to perform police duties.
However, borough council voted in March 2025 to rehire the individual as a part-time police officer.
The audit found that, following the rehire, monthly disability pension payments reported to be approximately $4,948 continued.
Auditors concluded that the continued payments were made “in direct violation” of the borough’s pension ordinance and labor agreement.
The governing ordinance defines a “total and permanent disability” as a condition that prevents an officer from engaging in any police employment.
Similarly, the collective bargaining agreement states that disability benefits continue only until the officer is no longer considered totally and permanently disabled.
According to the audit, the officer’s return to police work while continuing to receive disability pension payments conflicted with both standards.
The audit also references an executed separation and release agreement tied to the officer’s original disability determination.
While the report does not detail the full contents of that agreement, it cites the agreement as part of the basis for the officer being formally adjudicated as permanently unable to perform police duties.
That determination is central to the audit’s finding, which identifies a conflict between the disability designation and the officer’s subsequent return to active police employment.
The audit highlights the financial implications of the continued payments. At approximately $4,948 per month, the payments identified in the audit represent ongoing pension disbursements that were not authorized under governing rules. Over time, such payments could total tens of thousands of dollars if not corrected.
According to the audit, borough officials agreed with the finding without exception. The report recommends corrective action and notes that compliance will be evaluated during a future audit.
The audit recommends that the borough: Cease disability pension payments, and have the pension plan reimbursed for payments made after the officer’s reemployment. The report does not reflect that corrective measures had been implemented at the time of its release.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo Delaware Valley News.com The Tullytown Borough Hall
Because municipal pension plans are funded through taxpayer dollars, state aid, and investment returns, improper payments if not addressed can impact long-term funding and public confidence.
For taxpayers, pension systems represent long-term financial commitments that depend on strict compliance with governing rules. Situations where benefits continue contrary to those rules can raise concerns about proper oversight, internal controls, and accountability.
The audit underscores a central issue: benefits granted under a designation of permanent disability must align with actual employment status. Officials said this is the first time anything like this has happened in Pennsylvania. When asked if any arrangements were made to pay the money back or verify employment status of the officer, Tullytown officials said they would have to “Check into the matter and return our call”. When that happens, this story will be updated.
This article is based on a publicly released compliance audit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General. The Bucks County District Attorney’s office has been advised of the situation. Spokesperson for the office said they “Cannot confirm or deny any investigation and we would not be able to comment either way,”.
Since the officer has not been charged with any crime we are not naming them.
UPDATE 3:00 pm MARCH 24,2026. According to Joe Shellenberger, Mayor of Tullytown, “Yes, the town, we are aware of the auditor general report. The officer in question is not currently employed as a police officer, but rather as a records clerk, he has been most helpful. We are going to consult with an attorney to find out if this man can still be employed. If we do not hear from them by April 30,2026, the employee will be terminated. If it comes back that he can still work, that matter will then go before council to determine what to do next”.
Mayor Shellenberger called it a personnel issue.