11 Investigates: Audit of local police department uncovers money missing from evidence locker

MCKEESPORT, Pa. — A police department already under scrutiny is now facing a new investigation, according to Channel 11 sources.

It comes after two former McKeesport Police officers were charged with stealing money in the last month in two separate cases. Joseph Osinski is accused of taking $1 million from the police union and Brenda Sawyer is accused of stealing over $120,000 from the state Attorney General’s Office.

Those charges led the McKeesport Police Chief to do an audit of the Department, according to our sources. Now 11 Investigates has uncovered that between $200,000 to $300,000 is missing from the evidence room.

“Once someone gets their fingers caught in the cookie jar then all of sudden everyone wants to do something about it and find out what really happened,” said Fred Woolun.

When we brought the new allegations to McKeesport residents, most were not surprised.

“Nobody ever hears anything about these awesome things in McKeesport but everyone knows about the couple of bad apples in the police station or wherever we just get such a bad rap,” Anna Haughwoot said.

Many tell us that the ones involved in the criminal activities are making the whole department look bad.

“All it takes is one. That’s where the term bad apples come from,” Woolun said.

“They aren’t just stealing from the department, they are robbing the public,” Jeffrey Brown said.

We asked the District Attorney’s Office about the allegations, as sources said the DA’s detectives have spent time in the evidence room cataloging and have even changed the locks on the doors.

“The McKeesport Police Department detected potential issues with their evidence room and contacted our office. We have assigned detectives to assist in the review and cannot comment any further,” said the DA’s Chief of Staff.

Channel 11 spoke with the McKeesport Police Chief who said the department does not have a comment.

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