NORTH PROVIDENCE — An ongoing police investigation into overtime abuse in the Fire Department led to the arrest of a battalion chief Wednesday on charges that he defrauded the town by collecting thousands of dollars for work that he failed to perform.

Police Maj. Paul Martellini said that Battalion Chief David Charello, 50, of 54 Christopher St., Providence, surrendered at police headquarters at 11 a.m. He was charged with five felonies: three counts of obtaining more than $500 under false pretenses and two counts of using a computer to obtain money under false pretenses.

The police alleged that the Fire Department computer was used to tamper with time sheets.

Mayor Charles A. Lombardi, who has been highly critical of Fire Department overtime, vowed that the police will continue to press the investigation.

“This is something that I have questioned publicly a number of times,” he said. “Once our suspicions were confirmed, we contacted the North Providence Police Department for further study. This is an active and ongoing investigation.”

Lombardi said that Fire Department overtime is costing the town about $25,000 to $28,000 a week, or about $1 million annually. He said that Charello and the town’s other three battalion chiefs averaged more than $95,000 in salaries last year — $58,000 in base pay and about $37,000 in overtime.

North Providence has 106 firefighters that work from four stations.

In August, Lombardi floated a proposal to establish a mutual aid agreement with Pawtucket and Johnston as a cost-saving measure that could pave the way for a regionalized fire service.

Charello, who works from Station 3 on 1264 Douglas Ave., was arraigned before District Court Judge Michael Higgins and formally charged with the crimes. He was released on $10,000 personal recognizance and ordered to return to court for a pretrial hearing on Nov. 25.

Lombardi said that Charello has been suspended with pay.

Martellini declined to say how much money Charello allegedly took from the town, but he did say that the first alleged theft occurred in April. He said that the investigation was launched about two months ago and it is ongoing. He said that other firefighters may be involved.

Martellini said Fire Department officials have assisted the police investigation. The Police Department and Fire Department share headquarters in the same brick building at 1951 Mineral Spring Ave.

The lead investigators are Detective Lt. Brendan Furtado and Detective Sgt. Kristian Calise.

bmalinow@projo.com