DA announces criminal charges filed against ex-Greensburg police chief

GREENSBURG, Pa. — The Westmoreland County District Attorney has announced the criminal charges filed against former Greensburg police chief Shawn Denning.

Denning is facing charges in connection to an audit of a room that was designated for the destruction of evidence.

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The audit happened in February 2023. Detectives found a single backpack with various illegal steroids and suspected psilocybin mushrooms that were missing.

Investigators said that Denning had access to this room as the chief, and the backpack was part of a drug case in which he was the investigating officer.

The case had been classified as previously closed, and the backpack was slated for destruction but was never actually destroyed.

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Detectives were not able to find the backpack or the drugs inside.

Denning is charged with theft by unlawful taking or disposition, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and tampering with public records or information.

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