SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — A months-long internal investigation into overtime irregularities within the Lackawanna County Sheriff’s Office has now been referred for possible criminal review.
Lackawanna County Sheriff Mark McAndrew requested a criminal investigation involving two deputy sheriffs who were the subject of the internal probe, according to county officials.
District Attorney Brian Gallagher confirmed he received the referral from McAndrew on June 3 and has asked the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office to take over any investigation into the matter.
“The only comment I can provide at this time is that on June 3, 2026, I received a referral from Sheriff Mark McAndrew requesting a criminal investigation,” Gallagher said in a statement.
After reviewing the referral, Gallagher said he formally requested that the Attorney General’s Office assume responsibility for any investigation.
“I made that decision out of an abundance of caution,” Gallagher said, noting that the District Attorney’s Office works closely with the Sheriff’s Office on a daily basis.
Gallagher said sheriff’s deputies assist with courthouse security, prisoner transportation, county SWAT operations, and other law enforcement functions that regularly involve the District Attorney’s Office.
“Given the ongoing professional relationship between our offices, I believed it was appropriate to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest and have the matter reviewed by an independent agency,” Gallagher said.
FOX56 has learned the identities of the two deputies involved in the investigation but is not naming them because neither has been charged with a crime.
The criminal referral marks the latest development in a story first reported by FOX56 earlier this year, when county officials confirmed an internal investigation was underway regarding alleged overtime irregularities within the Sheriff’s Office.
It is unclear whether the Attorney General’s Office has accepted the referral or whether a criminal investigation has officially begun.
No charges have been filed, and no further details about the allegations have been released.