Former Coatesville detective charged with insurance fraud

March 19--The former Coatesville detective accused of stealing more than $47,000 from the department and police union has been charged with insurance fraud, according to the Chester County district attorney.

Officials say Gerald Pawling in 2009 purchased a camera with stolen money, then filed an insurance claim saying the camera was stolen out of his car. During a February search of Pawling's home, officials found that camera, which had been used to take photos after it was reported stolen, and also seven cash envelopes they say he lifted from the police department's evidence room, according to a news release from the district attorney.

Those envelopes -- which were uncovered after officials said they found two other evidence envelopes in Pawling's home last year -- should have contained more than $3,600, the release said.

Officials said they also found a camera lens that had been stolen from the Coatesville Police Department. Pawling had filed an insurance claim for the lens along with the camera, according to the release.

Pawling, a 17-year veteran of the department when he retired in 2012, was first charged in August and faced additional theft charges in January after the first evidence envelopes were found. In the most recent round of charges, he is facing counts of insurance fraud, tampering with evidence, and theft.

In total, he has been accused of stealing more than $60,000 in cash and items from the department and police union.

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