The former police chief in the Village of Chatham has been sentenced to pay nearly $93,000 in restitution and perform 200 hours of community service for defrauding the New York State pension system. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says Peter Volkmann concealed unlawful post-retirement public income and stole from the village through sham requests for reimbursement. In February, the 57-year-old pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny for “circumventing the state’s post-retirement income restrictions” and “cheating the retirement system” of more than $74,000. Volkmann was required to leave his position as part of the plea. DiNapoli says Volkmann hid public-source income from 19 municipalities and school districts in excess of the statutory limit by funneling the earnings through a private business.
Volkmann also served as the unpaid Commissioner of the Hudson Police Department. He stepped down when the investigation became public.
