Two married former Tustin California police officers have been accused of workers’ compensation fraud after they allegedly took part in mountain biking, boating, international scuba diving trips and home repair projects despite claiming to be disabled.

Married ex-Tustin police officers charged with workers’ compensation fraud

Two married former Tustin police officers have been accused of workers’ compensation fraud after they allegedly took part in mountain biking, boating, international scuba diving trips and home repair projects despite claiming to be disabled.

Kendal Hurd, 40, and her husband Kyle Hurd, 38, have both been charged with multiple felony counts of insurance fraud, as well as perjury and attempted perjury, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Citing video surveillance — as well as the couple’s own photos and videos — prosecutors allege that they led an active lifestyle despite claiming to suffer from constant back pain they attributed to wearing police duty belts and gear and getting in and out of their patrol cars. At one point, prosecutors allege, Kyle Hurd sent a text to a friend that “bragged about receiving unnecessary medical treatment because he was a good actor.”

The couple collected more than $188,000 while on disability, according to the DA Office.

Prosecutors said the two told their workers’ compensation doctors that “their pain increased with activity and improved with rest.” But when months of medical care didn’t lead to any reported improvement, the city of Tustin initiated surveillance of the couple.

While under that surveillance, prosecutors said, the couple was spotted sliding down a water slide, lifting children, riding bikes, paddle boarding, going to Pilates classes and playing in the water at Lake Mission Viejo.

Kendal Hurd worked as an officer in Santa Barbara before joining the Tustin Police Department in 2015, prosecutors said, while Kyle Hurd worked as an officer in Montclair before transferring to Tustin in 2014. Both were reportedly terminated from the Tustin Police Department in July 2021.

“Workers’ compensation fraud results in honest, hardworking business and government entities losing more than $30 billion a year,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. “This is such an egregious breach of the public’s trust by two people who were sworn to uphold our laws, not break them. We will not allow those who commit workers’ compensation fraud to go unpunished, and we will do everything we can to return the fraudulently paid money back to the taxpayers of Tustin.”

If convicted of the charges they currently face, Kendal Hurd faces up to 11 years in state prison, while Kyle Hurd faces up to nine years and six months behind bars.

Married ex-Tustin police officers charged with workers’ compensation fraud