A group of municipal pool workers in New Jersey has been arrested for allegedly stealing chemicals from the Secaucus town pool to support their private pool service company.
On June 10, Secaucus Police arrested four employees of the Secaucus Recreation Department and charged them with theft. The individuals — John Schwartz, 61; Frank Flanagan, 32; Joseph Ferrara, 27; and Megan Wofsy-Flanagan, 31 — allegedly used town resources to benefit their side business, Crystal Clear Pool and Spa Management.
Schwartz, the manager of recreation facilities, served as the supervisor of the other three. Flanagan handled special events and maintenance, Ferrara was the assistant manager of the Secaucus town pool, and Wofsy-Flanagan served as head lifeguard.
The investigation began in March after police received a tip that chemicals intended for public use were being siphoned off for private gain. According to police, the group stole pool chemicals — purchased by and stored at the Secaucus town pool — for use in their business servicing pools across Hudson, Bergen, Morris, and Somerset counties.
Authorities allege that the thefts, worth thousands of dollars, occurred regularly — both during and outside of their official work hours. Police also say that while on the town’s payroll, the employees were simultaneously working for their private company.
Secaucus Town Administrator Gary Jeffas expressed disappointment at the allegations.
“We have taken swift action and can ensure the public that any violation of their trust by a town employee, or anyone else, will not be tolerated,” Jeffas said.
Two additional individuals have also been arrested, and police say others — who neither live nor work in Secaucus — were observed participating in the thefts alongside Crystal Clear Pool and Spa Management employees. Investigators say that, in at least one case, a Secaucus town vehicle was used during the servicing of a private pool.
Searches conducted at the Secaucus Recreation Center, the home of Frank Flanagan and Megan Wofsy-Flanagan, and several vehicles turned up what police describe as incriminating evidence.
The investigation also revealed alleged fraud in the town’s lifeguard certification program. Police say the group used Crystal Clear Pool and Spa Management to certify town lifeguards, billing both the town and the individual lifeguard trainees for the same courses. Wofsy-Flanagan, who oversees the lifeguard program, allegedly used town funds to pay instructors from her private company, despite collecting fees from the students as well.
Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller stressed that the department will pursue wrongdoing regardless of who is involved.
“It is unfortunate that the public’s trust has been violated,” Miller said. “However, the Secaucus Police Department will attempt to restore that trust by holding the individuals involved accountable.”
All suspects were released pending a court appearance.
