'Embarrassed' ex-Pittsburgh police chief to plead guilty
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Attorneys for former Pittsburgh police Chief Nate Harper say he will plead guilty to charges that he conspired to steal $32,000 in city police funds and failed to file federal tax returns from 2008 to 2011.
Harper's lawyers held a news conference Friday after prosecutors announced the grand jury indictment against Harper, he pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the judge said he could remain free.
U.S. Attorney David Hickton called Harper's actions "the worst kind of public corruption," and said it was "a sad day" for authorities who had worked with the soft-spoken, generally well-liked and seemingly humble man to fight crime.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A 36-year police veteran, Harper came up through the ranks of Pittsburgh's roughly 800-officer force and was chief since 2006 before he resigned in February.