A second person has been charged in the wake of an FBI investigation into a conspiracy to steal tens of thousands of dollars from the city that landed former Police Chief Nate Harper in prison.
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala has charged Tamara Davis, a civilian employee at the Bureau of Police, with theft and forgery. According to the affidavit, Davis stole approximately $9,165 and created fake invoices which the city paid.
“The charges follow an investigation our office began in late August after receiving information from the FBI and the United States Attorney and in no way represent the fine work that the Bureau of Police does for the City of Pittsburgh on a daily basis,” said Mike Manko, Allegheny County DA spokesman, in a written statement.
Manko went on to call the arrest the conclusion of a ”sad and unfortunate chapter” in the history of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said Davis will be put on an unpaid leave of absence, officially ending her paid leave of absence while the investigation was underway.
Peduto said the city now has the right person as police chief.
“I have faith in Chief McLay that reforms that are needed will be done and we will learn from this and make sure that it doesn’t happen again,” Peduto said.
Shortly after taking office, Peduto moved the Office of Municipal Investigation out of the Police Bureau and put it under the Law Department.
“There needs to be checks and balances,” Peduto said. “You just can’t have the police policing the police.”
Davis surrendered herself to detectives Monday morning at the Allegheny County Courthouse. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 12.
