A new lawsuit from Jan Cahill, former superintendent of the West Virginia State Police, is shedding light on a two-year-old scandal involving alleged misconduct and internal turmoil within the agency.
Filed on April 7 in Kanawha County Circuit Court, Cahill’s lawsuit targets the State of West Virginia and the Department of Homeland Security. He claims he was pushed out of his role in 2023 for raising alarms over how the state handled COVID-19 relief funds and efforts to expand surveillance powers through the West Virginia Fusion Center without proper oversight.
Cahill, who served as Greenbrier County Sheriff before being appointed to lead the State Police in 2017, alleges he was forced to resign after resisting pressure from key figures in former Governor Jim Justice’s administration. Those figures include former Chief of Staff Brian Abraham and former Homeland Security Secretary Jeff Sandy.
Fusion Center Power Struggle
One of the central issues in the lawsuit is the West Virginia Fusion Center, a civilian-run intelligence-sharing agency. Cahill claims there was an attempt to expand its powers into law enforcement — something he opposed, citing concerns from federal partners and internal analysts. He resisted folding the West Virginia Intelligence Exchange (WVIX) into the Fusion Center without police supervision.
Cahill’s attorney, Stephen New, said FBI officials and U.S. Attorney’s Office personnel also warned against the Fusion Center operating as a law enforcement agency without oversight from the State Police.
COVID-19 Funds and CARES Act Concerns
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cahill says he was advised to classify the entire State Police payroll as a COVID-related expense under the federal CARES Act — even though actual pandemic-related expenses were much lower.
Instead of submitting the full payroll, Cahill initially approved only about $1 million in reimbursements tied to specific COVID-related costs like masks, gloves, and sick leave. However, after pushback from Abraham, the department reportedly complied with the directive to file for $26 million, sending funds to the state’s general revenue rather than the police department.
Fallout from Anonymous Letter and Internal Investigation
Tensions escalated when an anonymous letter surfaced in mid-2022, sparking an internal investigation. The letter outlined allegations of corruption within the State Police, including:
- Use of fake accounts to bypass purchasing rules
- Misuse of state purchasing cards
- Personal misconduct among officers
- Abuse of federal grant money and overtime policies
- Reports of hidden cameras placed in the women’s locker room at the State Police Academy
- A 2021 incident where two troopers were accused of stealing money from a casino patron
News of the letter became public in February 2023, leading to a major internal review. Cahill claims he was blindsided by the allegations when they aired on local news, with Sandy publicly confirming corruption.
Disputed Dismissal
Cahill asserts that he was never informed about certain incidents, such as the alleged theft at Mardi Gras Casino, until shortly before his departure. He believes he was forced to resign after learning he would be terminated via text message.
Though Justice publicly announced Cahill’s resignation in March 2023, the lawsuit states his paperwork was filed with a resignation date of March 15 — a date Cahill says he wasn’t aware of.
What’s Next
Cahill is seeking compensation and other relief through the court, claiming he was wrongfully removed in retaliation for standing up against questionable practices.
Since then, Jeff Sandy has retired and now serves on the board overseeing opioid settlement funds in the state. Brian Abraham, now Chief of Staff in Senator Justice’s office, called the lawsuit “baseless,” stating there is extensive documentation disproving Cahill’s claims.
As the case unfolds, it could open more scrutiny into the inner workings of West Virginia’s law enforcement and emergency response leadership.
