Pittsburgh Investigation Timeline

2011

The Alpha Outfitters Contract: Sept. 25, 2011

Arthur Bedway

The Post-Gazette reports on the relationship between Chief Harper and Robinson entrepreneur Arthur Bedway. Mr. Bedway was involved with the company Alpha Outfitters, which won a $337,000 contract to install and maintain radios and computers in city police cars. Mr. Bedway was also chairman of Carnegie-based Victory Security, which employed former police Chief Nate Harper's wife for a time.

Two charged with conspiracy in bid-rigging: Nov. 16, 2012

Mr. Bedway, 63, and Christine Ann Kebr, 56, a former systems analyst for the city, are charged in federal court with conspiring to rig the contract won by Alpha Outfitters. Ms. Kebr helped craft both the city's selection process and Alpha Outfitters' bid, then aided the company in getting its inflated bills paid, and was paid a bribe by Mr. Bedway, according to a criminal complaint. Mr. Bedway is charged with conspiracy, bribery and mail fraud. Ms. Kebr has since pleaded guilty and Mr. Bedway has an upcoming change-of-plea hearing.

The chief's side business: Feb. 7, 2013

The Post-Gazette reports that in 2012, Chief Harper became part of a private security consulting firm called Diverse Public Safety Consultants with a civilian clerk and three of his officers, including a sergeant he later promoted to commander. The company has since planned to dissolve.

FBI seizes documents from police headquarters: Feb. 12, 2013

FBI removes documents from Pittsburgh Bureau of Police headquarters.

FBI agents removed documents from the police bureau's special events and personnel and finance offices in what deputy police Chief Paul Donaldson describes as an investigation into allegations that funds were being misappropriated within the police bureau. The Post-Gazette later reports that at least one check intended to pay for officer moonlighting was deposited into an unauthorized account at the Greater Pittsburgh Police Federal Credit Union.

Harper asked to resign, others placed on leave: Feb. 20, 2013

Nate Harper

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl asks police Chief Nate Harper to resign after meeting for about two hours with federal investigators. Assistant Chief of Administration Regina McDonald is named acting police chief. Four bureau employees have since been placed on administrative leave.

Ex-bodyguard says Mayor Luke Ravenstahl knew of secret accounts: Feb. 22, 2013

The Post-Gazette reports that former mayoral bodyguard Fred Crawford Jr. says Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Public Safety Director Michael Huss knew that debit cards used by the bodyguards were linked to a non-governmental account at the credit union for the purpose of avoiding media scrutiny about certain expenditures. Both officials strongly denied his statements.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl announced he won't run for re-election: March 1, 2013

The mayor announces he won't seek re-election.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl announces that he won't run for re-election, 11 days after he formally announced his run. The mayor says the FBI investigation and "nasty and vicious" allegations made against him made rethink his decision to run again.

Internal documents shows concerns that chief, others misappropriated checks: March 9, 2013

The Post-Gazette reports on an internal memo documenting concerns that two employees in the bureau's personnel and finance office were taking checks meant to pay for officer moonlighting and depositing them into an account at the Greater Pittsburgh Police Federal Credit Union, which is not an authorized depository for city funds. In that memo, Officer Christie A. Gasiorowski writes to her supervisor that Karen Palmer, who works in the bureau's personnel and finance office, said civilian clerk Tammy Davis and office manager Sandy Ganster were taking the checks off of her desk and she "explained that she is afraid to tell anyone in her department because she thinks both of her supervisors, Tammy Davis and Sandy Ganster along with Chief Nathan Harper, are involved."

Harper indicted: March 22, 2013

Mr. Harper is indicted on four counts of failure to file his federal income taxes and one count of conspiracy after prosecutors said he and unnamed bureau employees diverted about $70,000 worth of checks from the police bureau into two accounts at the Greater Pittsburgh Police Federal Credit Union. The indictment says that Mr. Harper used about $31,000 of that for his personal use. In a rare move, Mr. Harper's attorney announces that day that he intends to plead guilty and said the "lure of the unmonitored accessibility of that account proved to be an irresistible temptation for Nate."

Federal investigators seek documents related to parking variances: May 7, 2013

Two Pittsburgh police bureau employees deliver documents relating to parking variances to the federal grand jury after the city receives a subpoena. A large number of the variances went to Robert Gigliotti, a supporter of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl who runs several valet parking variances.

Two mayoral bodyguards, secretary appear before grand jury: May 8, 2013

Mayoral bodyguards Sgt. Dominick Sciulli and Sgt. Matthew Gauntner, as well as the mayor's senior secretary Melissa Demme, appear before the federal grand jury, a sign that the investigation is moving closer to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's office.

Questions raised about renovations to mayor's home: May 8, 2013

The mayor's Fineview home

The Post-Gazette reports that renovations to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's Fineview home were performed by a company whose president also runs a firm that does extensive work for the city Department of Public Works. Several days later, Mr. Ravenstahl's attorney, Charles Porter Jr., confirms that investigators have obtained documents pertaining to the work and says, "Rumors of work being done for free are not true."

Pittsburgh parking lot leases draw FBI scrutiny: June 18, 2013

The Post-Gazette reports that federal investigators have asked two people questions about Urban Redevelopment Authority parking lot leases that were issued through a controversial process to a firm run by Robert Gigliotti, a supporter of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. The lot leases were given to William Penn Parking, a Green Tree firm owned by Mr. Gigliotti, despite the fact that the company ultimately offered the URA lower monthly payments than did other bidders.

Former bodyguard goes before grand jury: June 19, 2013

Fred Crawford, Jr., former city detective and mayoral security detail member, testifies before the federal grand jury. His attorney, Robert Stewart, says his account focuses on Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, his nightlife and the use of "a lot of taxpayers' dollars ... so the mayor could have a designated driver." Mayor's attorney, Charles Porter Jr., says there's nothing criminal in an official's need for security or pursuit of a personal life.