PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh police officer accused by another officer of raping her has now been fired. Target 11 has confirmed through multiple sources that the officer was terminated today.
The officer had been under fire since last year when the officer who claimed she was sexually assaulted sent a lengthy email to every officer in the department claiming that she was raped at her home by a fellow officer after a night of drinking and partying. She said it began at the Zone 5 station in East Liberty where they both worked and continued at a bar in Lawrenceville. She said the officer agreed to give her a ride home because she had been drinking.
Allegheny County police and the city’s Office of Municipal Investigations both conducted investigations. A spokesman for the district attorney’s office said at the time there was not enough evidence to file criminal charges.
The officer was initially suspended and transferred from Zone 5 to Zone 1, and that was supposed to be the end of any disciplinary action. But Target 11 learned today that the officer has now been fired. Sources tell Target 11 that critical and damning testimony and evidence from a court hearing earlier this year likely led to the decision to impose harsher disciplinary action.
Upset by what she considered to be a lack of disciplinary action, the officer late last year sent a lengthy email to every officer on the force describing what she claimed happened to her. She chastised city leaders at the time for not imposing harsher disciplinary action.
The officer then filed for a protection order. After a hearing in March, an Allegheny County Judge granted that protection order, barring the officer from any contact with her.
The judge also issued some scathing remarks in that court order.
“The court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the Plaintiff is the victim of sexual violence. At a minimum, the defendant committed the act of sexual assault. The court further finds that the Plaintiff is at continued risk of harm from the defendant. "
Target 11 has also learned that police could reopen the investigation if any new evidence or information comes to light.
The city declined to comment.
Target 11 also reached out to the Police Officers Union, and as of this writing, they have not gotten back to us.
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