Ex-police chief’s former pal faces computer scam term

January 14, 2014 at 11:54a.m.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A businessman and former friend of Pittsburgh’s ex-police chief has been sentenced to three years’ probation for bribing a city official to get a $327,000 contract to put radios and computers in city police cars.

Arthur Bedway Jr., who pleaded guilty in August, was also ordered to pay a $30,000 fine. Bedway contends that former police chief Nathan Harper came up with the idea and was paid $10,000 for his role in it. Harper’s attorneys have repeatedly denied that.

Another city employee, Christine Kebr, faces sentencing next month. Kebr pleaded guilty to taking $6,000 from Bedway to help his business, Alpha Outfitters, land the contract in 2007 by preparing bids that made it appear that the firm was owned by a woman to take advantage of set-asides for such businesses.