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Matthew Hubbard, age 55, of Agawam in Hampden County, was one of four officers suspended by Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training.
Hubbard had worked as a corrections officer at a Connecticut prison and claimed he was hurt responding to a call on Aug. 7, 2020, the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice said. He was placed on temporary total disability, which meant he was too injured to work.
Hubbard was also an officer with the Agawam Police Department. Though, it is unclear how long he served in that capacity.
From May 2021 until July 2022, Hubbard collected $74,129.72 in disability funds and $12,518.36 in transportation costs to attend medical appointments, investigators said.
However, despite being listed as too injured to work, Hubbard continued to work as a real estate agent and reserve police officer while receiving benefits, authorities said.
Hubbard was arrested in Connecticut in September 2022 and charged with first-degree larceny, defrauding the public community, fraudulent claim or receipt of benefits, and perjury, authorities said. Hubbard was released after posting a $10,000 bond in October 2022.
Officers from Duxbury Police Department, Dighton Police Department, and Boston Police Department were also suspended along with Hubbard.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker created POST in 2020 to review the backgrounds of police officers and uphold training standards.
Any officer arrested, charged, or indicted of a felony will have their certification suspended, the executive director of POST said. Anyone convicted of a felony will not be allowed to serve as a police officer.
The agency has suspended 39 Massachusetts police officers so far. Click here to see the list.
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