A Schuylkill County police officer faces a felony fraud charge after she took welfare funds while failing to report her wages with the Coaldale police department in 2020.

The Pennsylvania Office of State Inspector General filed charges against Denna V. Krammes, 43, of Orwigsburg, on Tuesday.

According to the affidavit, on March 1, the state received an overpayment referral from the Schuylkill County Assistance Office based on unreported income.

The investigator learned that Krammes completed a Compass application on Sept. 17, 2020. The application is used for applying for public assistance, including funds through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other financial assistance.

Krammes had e-signed the form certifying the information on the application was true, the affidavit states.

On Sept. 21, Krammes was interviewed by the county assistance office and reported no current employment. She did report receiving Pennsylvania Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits from the state.

She and her child were authorized to receive SNAP benefits, and she was authorized to receive medical assistance benefits after the interview. She received a total of $1,907 in SNAP funds and $1,733.04 in medical assistance benefits.

On Dec. 14, it was discovered the Krammes had received wages during her employment with Coaldale borough from Sept. 17 through Jan. 31, 2021.

A few weeks later, on Dec. 31, Krammes reported that she “recently became a part-time police officer with the Coaldale Borough Police Department” and submitted pay stubs for the Nov. 18 and Dec. 2.

On Feb. 16, the assistance office received verification of Krammes’ employment with Coaldale began Aug. 12 through Feb. 10; and determined she and her child had received more assistance than they were eligible for because of Krammes’ failure to report her income.

Investigators interviewed a representative from Coaldale on March 18. The person verified that Krammes was hired on July 20, 2020 and was still employed as a police officer.

She was arraigned before District Judge James Reiley in Pottsville and is free on $5,000 unsecured bail.

In addition to her employment with Coaldale police, Krammes served a brief time as Weissport’s police chief in 2016 and as a West Penn police officer. She also previously served as an office staff member for Tamaqua Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer in 2006.