Convicted former Pittsburgh police chief Harper should get pension, attorney argues

Former Pittsburgh police Chief Nate Harper should receive his annual pension for the 29 years he served the city as an “excellent police officer,” his attorney said in court documents filed on Monday.

Harper, 61, of Stanton Heights was sentenced in February to 18 months in prison, a year of probation and ordered to pay $31,987 in restitution for pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit theft and failing to file his federal tax returns from 2008 through 2011.

Harper's attorney, Samuel Stretton, said in a 21-page brief filed in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court that Harper should keep his pension at least for the 29 years he worked as an officer before he was appointed chief by former Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, in part because there was a break between his days as an officer and his appointment to chief.

“This was not a promotion or a change of job classification. This was an entirely new appointment away from civil service,” Stretton said.

The Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund stripped Harper of his pension effective Oct. 18, the day he pleaded guilty. His pension could be worth more than $1 million over his lifetime.

Taking his entire pension, Stretton said, is “extremely punitive and excessive in violation of due process.” Stretton wants Harper to receive the roughly $130,000 he paid into the fund during his career. Arguments before Judge W. Terrence O'Brien are scheduled for June 24.

Harper retired in February 2013 amid allegations that he funneled about $32,000 of city money into a credit union account and then obtained debit cards to spend the money on personal items. He collected about $40,000 in benefits before the pension board froze the account.

Adam Brandolph is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-391-0927 or abrandolph@tribweb.com.