A former Pittsburgh-area police officer is under fire and facing accusations of preying on the loyalty of law enforcement families and failing to pay vendors who provided services to the events he organized.
T.J. Burke runs the event company Officers Down 5K and has organized races across the country that were intended to raise money for law enforcement families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty.
11 Investigates' Courtney Brennan uncovered that Burke is facing civil lawsuits from vendors who say they haven't been paid and race organizers who claim that little money is given to the law enforcement families. They allege that Burke is taking advantage of his close ties to law enforcement.
"Somebody shouldn't be doing this under the ruse of police and that line of work," said Nikki Nothstein, who worked with Burke.
Nothstein hired Burke to put on a fundraising race in 2015 to honor Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Bryon DIckson, who was gunned down outside his barracks.
"The event was really well-attended, and we raised about $12,000 for the beneficiary, so I was really excited," said Nothstein.
Nothstein had Burke return the next year.
"We had about the same attendance for the race, maybe not as many corporate sponsors, but the attendance was there and we ended up having $3,000 to split between beneficiaries. So there was a big gap for me. I didn't understand it," said Nothstein.
TRENDING NOW:
- WINTER STORM WARNING: Icy roads possible as temperatures fall into teens
- 1 person dead in Armstrong County house fire
- Body found after 49 days, left in vehicle in police impound lot
- VIDEO: 2018 Gerber Baby Is First Child With Down Syndrome
Nothstein asked Burke for a breakdown of the money accounting and told 11 Investigates' Courtney Brennan that she badgered Burke for how much money was raised, what went to vendors and how much he kept. She said she never got those numbers.
"Shame on me. There's no contract signed between anybody, and this is what I'm hearing across the country from people that are having issues. And that's shame on us, because we kind of are a trustworthy group," said Nothstein.
Vermont vendor and veteran Marianne Shields went on YouTube to vent her frustrations about working with Burke. Shields said Burke hasn't paid her for six custom flags she made for him to sell as raffle prizes.
"We made two flags. He paid the first two flags and then, after that, he was dodging phone calls. He was giving us excuses, like 'Oh I'm at the hospital,' or 'Oh, I'm on a long drive,'" said Shields. "T.J. didn't pay us. We had no money for food. Our fridge was empty. I couldn't afford to buy dog food for my service dog."
[ DOWNLOAD THE CHANNEL 11 NEWS APP ]
11 Investigates' Courtney Brennan confronted Burke at his Cranberry home. He refused to answer any questions, and he and his attorney never followed up on multiple requests for an interview.
Burke is currently facing a civil case against him in Pennsylvania, and another vendor is suing him. Shields said she doesn't want other vendors to fall into the same trap that she did.
"I said, 'This guy's the owner of an organization that helps police officers.' I was, like, 'I can trust this guy,'" said Shields.
In addition to Nothstein and Shields, three other race organizers in Minnesota have accused Burke of doing the same thing to them.
Do you have something you would like Channel 11 to investigate? To submit a tip, CLICK HERE.
PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS:
Abandoned boats, on Pittsburgh's rivers and streets, a growing problem