A former Boonton, N.J., police officer was sentence to three years of probation and pay thousands in restitution for falsely claiming that a knee injury occurred on-the-job so he could be paid workers’ compensation benefits.

John Hagen III, 36, of Allamuchy, N.J., also must complete 90 days in a sheriff’s labor assistance program and pay $141,000 in restitution, according to the Star Ledger newspaper. If he fails to complete the sheriff’s program, he will serve 90 days in jail.

Hagen pleaded guilty to two counts each of third-degree theft-by-deception and third-degree insurance fraud.

A Boonton police officer since 2001, Hagen lost his job with the department and will never be able to hold a public-service job again, his lawyers noted, according to the report.

In February 2008, Hagen filed a workers’ compensation claim for a knee injury suffered when he slipped off a curb while on duty in October 2006. The former officer actually hurt his knee during a pick-up basketball game at a local YMCA, the Star Ledger reported.

Hagen mentioned his scheme to others and tried to get them to lie to investigators when he was made aware of an investigation into his claim, according to authorities.