The state comptroller’s office is investigating “double dipping” abuses in the NFTA Transit Police Department stemming from four officers who received regular pay while also working security for area athletic events.

The comptroller’s auditors met with NFTA officials Tuesday as part of an overtime audit of seven transit authorities across the state, said Lawrence M. Meckler, executive director of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority.

But he emphasized that the authority discovered the abuses on its own as part of an internal investigation last summer, resulting in disciplinary suspensions without pay for the offenders.

“These officers were being paid by the NFTA but would then sign in at [Erie Community College] or the Board of Education for Harvard Cup events,” he said.

Meckler said he was legally prevented from releasing the officers’ names but indicated they received suspensions varying from 10 to 25 days.

The executive director also explained that the authority’s police contract prohibits disciplinary action against its officers for any offenses more than one year old. But the comptroller’s audit will extend back another three years, he said, to determine whether the NFTA overpaid any of the officers.

The Buffalo News reported last July that the authority had launched an internal probe as a result of receiving an anonymous letter revealing the abuses. Meckler said at the time that about 25 to 30 transit officers work second jobs for various towns, security companies and the Buffalo Board of Education, but only after receiving approval from the transit police chief.

But the anonymous letter caused the NFTA to compare its own records with those of outside agencies that potentially could employ transit officers to determine whether any filed for payment at the same time they were supposed to be working for the transit agency.

Meckler said Wednesday that he expects the comptroller to report back to the NFTA within the next month and that his staff has 30 days to respond. Then the comptroller will issue a final report.

He added that initial reviews with the comptroller’s auditors indicate favorable reports regarding all other NFTA overtime.

“We anticipate receiving positive comments regarding our overall overtime performance,” Meckler said.