Police Officer On Leave For 3 Years Returns To Work
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A Pittsburgh police officer placed on leave did not work for three years, but she still made nearly $200,000.
Tonya Ford is now returning to work, but her lawyer said the matter is far from over.
"Three years and two months, she's been on suspension. She still hasn't been given a reason why," Ford's attorney Sam Cordes said.
Officer Ford was recently sent a letter from the police department stating: "The investigations that led to you being placed on administrative leave are completed. You are hereby directed to return to work."
Cordes calls the City's actions throughout confounding.
"Has never disciplined her for anything at anytime. There's no criminal charges have been brought," he said. "Believe me, by now if there had been evidence, there would have been criminal charges brought. So I don't know what happened."
The City says it was a complex issue, centered around the Nate Harper investigation.
The City says because Officer Ford worked for the former chief, and he went to prison for his illegal actions, the investigations of people he worked with took some time.
Cordes isn't buying it. In fact, he sued the city on her behalf for back pay; although, she has been paid for three years.
"She was suspended with basically half of her pay. Was willing to go back any day she wanted. Any day they called, she would have gone back. The way we know that is she's filed suit to get back," he said.
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KDKA spoke to the Police Union president late Friday afternoon. The president said the bottom line is, what this shows is a complete, utter incompetence within the administration and the city and the police department, and Ford should have been back on the job years ago."
