NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) — The New Orleans Police Department’s Public Integrity Bureau has arrested Sergeant Henry Burke on four counts of public payroll fraud and six counts of injuring public records.
Burke has been placed on emergency suspension without pay as the investigation continues, according to the department.
The arrest follows a Fox 8 investigation that uncovered alleged timesheet discrepancies involving Burke and another high-ranking officer, Senior Police Officer Brandon Coleman. The investigation found that both officers were recorded at their homes during times their payroll records indicated they were on duty.
In November 2025, Fox 8 first reported that undercover cameras documented Burke at home while he was clocked in for work. Beginning in July 2025, cameras placed outside Burke’s residence captured multiple instances that appeared to conflict with his reported work hours.
On July 13, video showed Burke entering his vehicle at 2:54 p.m., despite his timesheet indicating a 2:30 p.m. clock-in. Two days later, on July 15, cameras recorded Burke returning home at 6:54 a.m., six minutes before his scheduled clock-out time. On July 16, Burke was seen leaving his home at 3:02 p.m., more than 30 minutes after his reported start time.
Burke, who lives outside Orleans Parish approximately 30 minutes from his assigned district, was again observed in September 2025. On September 24, Fox 8 cameras showed him loading a K-9 into a vehicle and departing at 2:55 p.m., nearly half an hour after his shift had reportedly begun.
The findings prompted an internal affairs review and a broader investigation by the NOPD’s Public Integrity Bureau. Authorities believe Burke may have falsified official records or fraudulently billed work hours to the city’s payroll system.
Following the initial investigation, the NOPD confirmed it was examining potential violations of departmental policies and procedures. Burke’s emergency suspension will remain in effect as the case moves forward.
