JEANNETTE POLICE OFFICER LOGGED BOGUS TRAFFIC STOPS

Authorities in Westmoreland County say a Jeannette police officer has been logging bogus traffic stops.  Between mid-June of this year and July 1st, Officer Matthew Painter reportedly logged 18 traffic contacts that detectives believe to be fictitious.  At the time of many of those traffic contacts, reports say Painter’s body cam show that he was inside the police station or at some place other than the location of the logged stop.  Painter is charged with 18 counts of tampering with public records.