NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – One of the New Orleans Police Department’s highest-paid officers has been fired following FOX 8’s months-long undercover investigation “Unchecked Overtime” that uncovered multiple potential payroll violations.
Sgt. Henry Burke was issued his termination letter Thursday after the NOPD confirmed its internal investigation concluded he had committed multiple counts of payroll violations and multiple counts of submitting inaccurate reports.
Nearly $750,000 paid between 2022 and 2025
Between 2022 and 2025, Burke was paid nearly three-quarters of a million dollars in taxpayer money. Last year alone, he earned $282,000 and claimed to have worked more than 4,500 hours — the equivalent of more than 12 hours a day, every day of the year. On separate weeks in July and September last year, FOX 8’s undercover camera recorded Burke at his home outside Orleans Parish while he was clocked in.
Felony charges declined, referred to another jurisdiction
In February, Burke was charged with 10 felonies and placed on unpaid administrative leave. The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office declined the 10 felony counts on July 1. The state also refused the charges on July 3. The NOPD said those charges have since been referred to another jurisdiction but declined to identify which one.
Three other officers under investigation; department reports $8 million in overtime savings…