Pittsburgh overpays police officers more than $250,000

Pittsburgh erroneously paid its police officers a total of more than $250,000 for uniforms and is now trying to recoup the money, according to the Mayor’s Office.

The city’s Human Relations Department on Tuesday notified police management and officers of the error and said it was working with the police union on reimbursement plans, but the union president said he was unaware of an overpayment.

“As of right now I have not been contacted by anyone stating that police officers have been overpaid for a clothing allowance,” said Robert Swartzwelder, president of Fraternal Order of Police Fort Pitt Lodge 1.

Checks totaling $255,476 went out on May 15 to 916 officers as retroactive reimbursement for 2019 uniform costs, according to the city. Officers receive a uniform allowance each year under their union contract.

Tim McNulty, spokesman for Mayor Bill Peduto, said someone wrongly interpreted a new union contract awarded by an arbitration panel in January and that resulted in the overpayment.

“It was a mistake and we’re launching an investigation to see how it happened and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.