PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh police sergeant remains on paid administrative leave despite charges filed against her in connection with an incident at River’s Casino being dropped, Target 11’s Rick Earle learned Monday.
The Fraternal Order of Police union said the case against the officer was dismissed, and she should be allowed to return to her job.
At the River’s Casino on the North Shore in November, a Pittsburgh police sergeant attempted to enter the casino after, according to her attorney, she had put her name on the self-exclusion list that bars people from the establishment. The list is meant for people with gambling problems.
State police then filed a summary citation for trespassing against the sergeant, but the charge was dismissed in December.
“Why this officer remains on administrative leave with pay is beyond me because I don't know of any active investigation that is taking place,” police union attorney Bryan Campbell said.
Campbell told Earle Monday the union has been given no reason for the officer’s leave, and he argued she should be returned to her job immediately.
The police department’s public information officer said in an email to Target 11 that the chief would not be commenting on the situation.
Meanwhile, Campbell, who believes this is the first time an officer has been placed on leave for a summary offense, said the union plans to either file a grievance or take the city to court to force them to reinstate the officer.
“The FOP thinks it's a situation where its waste of taxpayer money because these people could be working,” Campbell said.
The police union attorney said the citation issued to the officer is similar to a traffic ticket, and he wants to know if the city will begin suspending officers who get traffic citations.
When reached Monday, the mayor’s press secretary also had no comment on the situation.
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