Ex-Pittsburgh Police Commander Facing Multiple Felony Charges

PITTSBURGH, PA — Allegheny County police have charged a former Pittsburgh police commander with illegally recording fellow police officers.

After consultation with the district attorney’s office, county police charged Matthew Lackner, 50, with four felony counts of interception, disclosure or use of wire, and electronic or oral communications. Lackner has since retired from the city police department.

In October, county police were asked to investigate after a body-worn camera was discovered to be concealed in an unmarked city police vehicle. Investigators later discovered multiple concealed recordings of several other officers.

Investigators reviewed 14 different recordings from the cameras and determined that officers within the department’s Zone 2 were recorded without their knowledge on cameras that were placed inside unmarked police vehicles.

Police said that Lackner was responsible for placing the cameras inside the vehicles and concealed his department issued body worn camera in order to illegally record interactions with officers.