Michael Irey, the borough's former police chief, was charged with three counts each of theft by unlawful taking, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, theft by deception, forgery involving an unauthorized act in writing, uttering a forged writing and unsworn falsification to authorities, according to the Delaware County District Attorney's Office. He also faces one count each of obstruction of justice and receiving stolen property.

An arrest warrant was issued Nov. 5. Irey was taken into custody by New Jersey authorities on local charges Nov. 9 and is being held while awaiting extradition to Delaware County.

The case began in December 2025, when someone inside the Upland Borough Police Department contacted the district attorney's Special Investigations Unit. According to prosecutors, eight full-time officers had filed complaints with the borough alleging that Irey was submitting overtime and extra-duty hours for shifts he did not work.

The disputed assignments included school traffic details funded by a grant from Chester Community Charter School and overtime work tied to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Investigators said officers grew suspicious after Irey failed to appear at some of the posts for which he had signed up.

The Criminal Investigations Division was contacted again in January 2026 and received seven anonymous complaints that had also been submitted to Upland Borough Council.

Prosecutors said the investigation drew on overtime submissions, cellphone data, bank records, timekeeping records and license plate reader information. Multiple officers reported seeing Irey at bars in and around Delaware County while he was being paid for assignments, and license plate readers placed his borough-issued vehicle near some of those locations, according to the district attorney's office.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Sgt. Edward Rosen at 610-891-4700.

The charges against a former chief in a small Delaware County borough underscore questions about oversight of overtime and extra-duty pay in local police departments, where supervisors often approve their own schedules and grant-funded details can be difficult for municipal officials to audit. Upland Borough Council members had already received anonymous complaints before prosecutors became involved, according to the district attorney's office.