Former police captain to serve 16 years of probation for evidence room theft

Christopher Halaszynski told a judge he has begun turning his life around.

By PAULA REED WARD
TribLive

A former McKeesport police captain will serve 16 years on probation for stealing more than a quarter-million dollars from his department’s evidence room.

Christopher Halaszynski, 54, pleaded guilty to theft and receiving stolen property on Tuesday before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Jennifer Satler.

As part of his sentence, Halaszynski must pay restitution totaling $260,000 On Tuesday, he paid $4,500 toward that sum.

“He’s back on his feet. He’s found faith through this,” said his defense attorney, Ryan James. “He’s doing all the right things here to atone for what he did wrong.”

According to a criminal complaint, Halaszynski had been in charge of the evidence room for the McKeesport police from 2018 until late 2020 with no problems.

But after he and his wife separated, Halaszynski began struggling financially. Initially, he took money from the evidence room with the intention of returning it, the complaint said.

But he told investigators he got “selfish and greedy, and it became easy.’” Halaszynski told investigators the evidence room was in disarray when he took over, with evidence in drawers like a card catalog, going back several years. At first, he stole money from those cases — a couple thousand dollars at a time — and used it to pay bills, Halaszynski told investigators. But later, he used it to travel at Christmas.

“Mr. Halaszynski feels tremendous remorse and embarrassment,” James said.

During the hearing, Halaszynski told the court that he spent 28 years with the McKeesport Police Department, rising through the ranks from patrolman to captain.

But after he and his wife split up, he said, “Things started to fall apart. I struggled financially, and unfortunately, I made horrible decisions.”

Halaszynski said he drank heavily and wasn’t doing his job appropriately.

“I knew at some point, the money I was taking, I couldn’t replace.”

As pressure began to mount, and an investigation began, on Sept. 9, 2024, Halaszynski said he attempted to overdose on fentanyl.

His ex-wife found him in his patrol car at his home, he continued. She called 911, and Halaszynski received CPR before being flown to UPMC Presbyterian, where he remained for a few weeks.

Since then, he said he has cooperated with investigators and attempted to rebuild his life.

“I was very open about it. I was very remorseful,” Halaszynski said. “I have a lot of shame.”

He has begun attending church, is working as a flagger for construction and has a strong support system.

“I had three years where I fell apart, and I’m trying to get back up.”

Satler called Halaszynski’s actions “a tremendous violation of trust.”

“These are all traumas you have perpetrated on your families — your real family and your work family,” the judge said.

But, she continued, based on the lack of a criminal record and the need to pay restitution, a sentence of probation is appropriate.

“I will be monitoring this to make sure this is done,” she said.