Ex-FOP officer in McKeesport accused of theft
Joseph Osinski allegedly took more than $1 million for his personal use.
A former McKeesport detective and Fraternal Order of Police financial secretary was arrested on charges of stealing more than $1 million from his union lodge.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office announced Thursday that Joseph Osinski, 55, is accused of transferring funds and using the lodge’s bank accounts and cards for personal benefit.
Osinski is charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, access device fraud, misapplication of entrusted property, dealing in the proceeds of illegal activity and receiving stolen property.
Osinski is accused of stealing $1,067,057.82 from FOP Lodge 91. The AG office said he misappropriated $1,041,680 from the lodge between March 2019 and April 2024. Osinski allegedly took checks payable to the lodge and deposited them into accounts he created under the FOP’s name at a different bank. He also allegedly spent $24,000 on the lodge’s credit card for personal use.
Of the more than $1 million, Osinski withdrew $890 in checks intended for McKeesport police Officer Sean Sluganski’s memorial, according to the complaint. Sluganski was killed in the line of duty in February 2023.
The two checks, which came from another FOP lodge, had memo lines that read “Sean Sluganski Line of Duty Death” and “Charles Thomas Line of Duty Injury.” Officer Thomas was injured in the same shooting that claimed the life of Sluganski.
McKeesport officials informed the Mon Valley Independent Thursday that Osinski is no longer a part of the city’s police department.
“Upon being made officially aware of the allegations against Detective Osinski, he immediately was placed on administrative leave,” Mayor Michael Cherepko said. “Upon reflection, he made the decision to retire from his employment with the City of McKeesport.”
Cherepko confirmed that none of allegations leveled against Osinski arose from his duties or actions as a McKeesport police officer.
Police Chief Mark Steele said “there is no concern whatsoever” for any missing funds within the McKeesport Police Department.
Osinski, who served as FOP Lodge 91 financial secretary for five or six years according to the criminal complaint, was one of three members who had access to the lodge’s bank accounts. In January, lodge board members received an anonymous letter that questioned the amount of money transferred in and out of the lodge’s bank accounts, claiming somebody was stealing member dues. Prior to that, FOP board members found several purchases on the lodge’s JPMorgan Chase credit card that appeared to be personal in nature, including payments for alcohol, hotels and restaurant expenses, the AG’s office said.
At a December 2023 lodge board meeting, Osinski said he also had a JPMorgan Chase credit card for his restaurant and mixed up the two, according to the complaint.
The AG’s office said Osinski kept members “in the dark” about the amount of money going in and out of lodge’s financial accounts.
“This defendant was not only a trusted member of law enforcement in his community, he was trusted by his peers and colleagues to handle their dues money in support of the FOP mission,” Attorney General Michelle Henry said in a news release. “His abuse of that trust left his fellow officers struggling to keep their lodge afloat and damaged the public’s trust in those working to protect them. These charges serve as a reminder that we will seek justice from those who harm our communities, regardless of job or position.”
Osinski was terminated from the position of financial secretary a few weeks before the lodge’s April 2024 board meeting due to allegations of misappropriation of funds.
Osinski’s bail was set at $50,000, and he’s scheduled for a preliminary hearing Oct. 9.
