Mayor Ravenstahl Drove Pittsburgh Police SUV To ConcertPOSTED: 11:29 am EDT October 3,
2007 PITTSBURGH -- Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is facing questions over his use of a vehicle from the Police Bureau's Intelligence Squad that was paid for with federal Homeland Security money.Among Ravenstahl's public and private uses of the GMC Yukon was driving to a Toby Keith concert with his wife and friends at Post-Gazette Pavilion in Burgettstown, Washington County.Ravenstahl doesn't believe it's a problem, saying he wasn't aware that federal money had paid for the vehicle, but U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan said her office would review the situation. Buchanan's office released a statement Wednesday, saying, "The recent allegations regarding improprieties by Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl that have been brought to the attention of my office will be reviewed as are all allegations of misconduct by public officials. Without complete knowledge of the facts, it would be premature to discuss potential federal criminal violations.""I don't think there's the appearance of impropriety here," Ravenstahl said Wednesday. "I used a police vehicle. I always do. I traded out for another police vehicle, so I don't understand why that's any different than normal practice."Ravenstahl said he didn't know the SUV was paid for with a federal grant that may restrict its use. He said he stopped using the vehicle when he found out."Any time I'm in public, I have with me a security officer. That's part of being mayor," Ravenstahl said. "You're not the mayor from 9 to 5, Monday through Friday. You're the mayor 24/7, and that's the approach I've taken."Police Chief Nate Harper said he assigned the Yukon to the mayor. Harper denied that he tried to discipline Sgt. Mona Wallace, who called attention to the issue.Calling it a personnel matter, Public Safety Director Mike Huss would not discuss a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report that he overruled the bureau's attempt to reprimand Wallace. Related Links: More Allegheny County NewsGet RSS Headlines | Free Desktop Alert Copyright 2008 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
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Pittsburgh Mayor Ravenstahl Explains Personal Use Of Police SUV
