KY firefighter accused of fraudulently logging overtime for more than a year
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Internal audit found firefighter falsified overtime for 13 months.
- Firefighter confessed and was charged with theft by deception ($10,000+).
- City pursued internal probe, got resignation, and criminal charges.
A Central Kentucky firefighter has been arrested after he was allegedly inaccurately logging overtime hours for more than a year.
On Tuesday, Winchester Fire Chief Christopher Whiteley contacted police after learning that Kenneth Ball allegedly had fraudulently stolen money from the fire department. Whiteley, his administrative staff and the city’s director of finance conducted a self-initiated internal audit and discovered Ball allegedly had falsely claimed overtime hours over the past 13 months, according to Winchester Police Chief Travis Thompson.
“It was determined the employee was not actually at work when claiming overtime,” Thompson claimed in a news release.
Court documents claim Ball began inaccurately reporting overtime hours on Feb. 7, 2025. In total, investigators allege they found 86 fraudulent time submissions that equaled more than $35,000 in stolen money.
Ball confessed to the allegations during an interview with a Winchester police detective. He said he paid bills with the extra money, according to court documents.
Ball was arrested Thursday afternoon and charged with theft by deception — $10,000 or more. He is being held at the Clark County Detention Center on a $35,000 bond, according to jail records.
Ball resigned from the fire department, according to Thompson.
“The city of Winchester has zero tolerance for employees claiming fraudulent time and moved swiftly to do an internal investigation and bring this crime to justice,” Thompson said in the news release.
Ball is scheduled to be arraigned in Clark District Court on Wednesday, according to court records.
This story was originally published March 27, 2026 at 6:59 AM.
