School police officers under fire for allegedly stealing taxpayer funds
PITTSBURGH PA March 28 2021— Two Pittsburgh Public Schools police officers are under investigation for allegedly stealing funds from taxpayers by not reporting for work, but still getting paid.
On Friday, Target 11′s Rick Earle learned one of the officers resigned from their position while the other officer has been placed on unpaid leave.
Sources tell Target 11 the two officers worked at schools in Pittsburgh’s South Hills neighborhood as well as a campus on the North Side.
The allegations came to light over the last year, when students and staff were not at their school campuses due to the pandemic.
The officers would apparently report in by radio that they were on duty, but sources tell Target 11 the duo did not show up for work and still reported the time.
The district’s police chief apparently discovered the issue when he noticed the officers’ vehicles were parked at the department’s annex and appeared to not have been used.
As of Friday, it is unclear how long the alleged absences occurred for.
The teachers’ union that represents school police officers told Target 11, “We continue to work through this issue with the district. We have no further comment at this time.”
Target 11 has learned the school district is in the process of starting termination proceedings for both employees.
”For 18 years, she’s valiantly represented the Pittsburgh Public Schools doing security, never had an issue. This is really a shock to her,” said Phil DiLucente, attorney.
DiLucente represents the officer who has been placed on unpaid leave.
He tells Channel 11 she followed policy and procedures.
”She went to work every day whether that was during COVID, where she was told to say home or whether that was doing a review online. We have to remember we are in a COVID environment, and best practices were always followed by here, and she did was her superiors told her to do,” said DiLucente.
The officer is planning on challenging her termination.
DiLucente says he is confident his client will ultimately be reinstated by the district’s police department.
