2013: A Year in Review

The staff of the special investigations department (SID), like many individuals, views the start of a new calendar year as an opportunity to reflect on the past and look forward to the days ahead. 2013 represented another year of success for SID. However, we know 2014 can be a year of further achievement and greater improvement.

During the last year, SID identified more than $50 million in savings to the state insurance fund.  From emerging trends to ongoing methods, SID remained focused on our goal to prevent workers’ compensation fraud. We also worked to strengthen interagency partnerships critical to our success. Furthermore, 2013 saw the lowest number of cases open at year-end and the highest number of terabytes of data processed by SID’s digital forensics unit

2013 also marked the 20^th Anniversary of SID. Since 1993, SID has and will continue to uphold its dual functions of deterring workers’ compensation fraud and its subsequent investigation if we suspect fraud.

Nonetheless, much of SID’s work could not be possible without the integrity and vigilance of hardworking Ohioans. To show our appreciation for his commitment to protect the Ohio State Insurance Fund, SID presented Toledo business owner Greg Bryant with a Certificate of Appreciation. The certificate acknowledges his referral of a fraud allegation to BWC that resulted in a conviction, sentencing and nearly $50,000 in savings.

Now that 2013 has ended, SID looks forward to the opportunities the new year will bring. A committee of talented SID professionals, in partnership with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, has begun planning for our first Electronic Surveillance Equipment Symposium. Scheduled for April 17, 2014, the symposium will feature a variety of presentations and equipment demonstrations. We expect the symposium will benefit each attendee as well as the law enforcement agencies they represent. More information will be available in the coming weeks.

Much has changed throughout the last 20 years, from digital advancements to more sophisticated methods of committing crimes. However, the SID’s mission remains unaltered: To deter, detect, investigate and prosecute workers’ compensation fraud, and preserve the Ohio State Insurance Fund.

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