Oct 3, 2007 7:50 pm US/Eastern
U.S. Attorney To Investigate Ravenstahl's Car Use
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
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Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
KDKA
The U.S. Attorney will determine whether Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl broke a federal law when he used a city police vehicle for personal use.
Ravenstahl used an SUV that was paid for with federal Homeland Security funds to take some friends to a concert in August at the Post-Gazette Pavilion.
The vehicle in question was restricted to police intelligence use only.
"I was not aware of it and used the vehicle accordingly, and now that I know that it was a vehicle that was purchased with Homeland Security dollars, we obviously haven't used it since," said Ravenstahl.
But someone in the police department did know --Sergeant Mona Wallace, the Intel Sergeant.
When Wallace realized that the mayor was repeatedly using an unauthorized Homeland Security vehicle for personal pleasure, she tried to get the word to him through the chain of command.
KDKA Political Editor Jon Delano reports when that failed, she went over the chain, and that's when someone tried to stop her.
Within the Police Bureau, we do have chain of command, and the chain of command we take very seriously such as all our rules and regulations," said Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper.
Chief Harper would not talk about who issued a disciplinary action report against the city's latest whistle-blower.
But Public Safety Director Michael Huss said the police officer acted properly and rescinded the discipline.
"In this particular case, the employee brought forth the fact that this vehicle was in fact purchased with Homeland Security funds and that there was certain guidelines that should have been followed as to the use of it," said Huss.
Huss said the vehicle will no longer be used for the mayor's personal use.
But that assurance was not enough for U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan, who issued this statement: "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."
But Ravenstahl says he did nothing wrong.
"No, not at all," said Ravenstahl. "I don't think there's the appearance of impropriety here."
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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