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Hingham Police Sergeant Found Guilty, Sent to Jail for Misleading Police Invest, Filing False Insurance Claim



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Contact:  Beth Stone- (508) 584-8120

BROCKTON – A Hingham Police sergeant has been found guilty and sentenced to jail
for misleading police officers and attempting to receive benefits for a false injury he claimed
happened on the job, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz announced today.

After a three-day trial in Plymouth Superior Court, a jury deliberated two hours before
finding Kris Phillips (DOB: 04/02/63) of Hingham, guilty of one count of Misleading a Police
Investigation and two counts of Filing a False Insurance Claim. Judge Gary Nickerson sentenced
Phillips to two years in the Dukes County House of Corrections with six months to serve and the
balance suspended for three years. As part of his sentence, Phillips was also ordered to pay
$1,900 in restitution and may no longer represent himself or work as a law enforcement officer. Phillips cannot possess firearms and must surrender his license to carry firearms.

“Each day they put the uniform on, our police officers put their lives on the line in order
to keep the public safe,” DA Cruz said. “The jury made the right decision in finding Mr. Phillips
guilty. His unlawful actions and betrayal of trust should not tarnish the exemplary work
performed day in and day out by members of the Hingham Police Department.”

On July 17, 2015, Phillips, a veteran Hingham Police Officer, was working a police detail
at the Hingham Shipyard retail complex. At closing time of the Hingham stores, while Phillips
was on foot patrol, he alleged that he was struck and sustained significant injuries by a person
backing a car out of a parking spot. A police investigation revealed that Phillips’ claim of being
struck and the manner of the incident were fabricated.

The investigation found that Phillips, who is out on administrative leave, misled Hingham
officers responding to the accident and filed false reports of injuries as a result of the accident
and fraudulently received health insurance coverage for treatment from Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
A perjury charge against Phillips was dismissed prior to the beginning of trial.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Russell Eonas and David
Cutshall was investigated by Hingham Police.

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December 1, 2016