PITTSBURGH — Target 11 has learned a longtime county employee was fired last month after allegations he took rock salt.
Target 11 Investigator Rick Earle learned officials at the Allegheny County Courthouse discovered 16 bags of rock salt missing after receiving an anonymous tip.
County Manager William McKain alerted police and their investigation ultimately led them to a longtime employee.
“It’s always serious when it’s the taxpayers' money,” said McKain.
McKain declined to release the employee’s name, but sources close to the investigation tell Target 11 it’s Jim Clair.
Earle learned Clair is a former maintenance manager at the Allegheny County Courthouse.
Sources say Clair worked for the county for 39 years, but was fired in January after the allegations surfaced. Sources tell Target 11 that Clair admitted to taking the rock salt.
Investigators estimate several hundred dollars' worth of rock salt had been taken. They suspect it could have been going on for years.
McKain said he hopes this serves as a warning to all county employees.
“We safeguard the assets that are trusted in our care by the taxpayers. If you break that trust, we will come with the full thunder of this county -- either with discipline, termination or, if appropriate, legal action,” he said.
McKain said the county considered several options, including filing criminal charges, but in the end they opted for termination.
It’s unclear if Clair will still receive his pension.