Harrisburg police have made two arrests in a major investigation into missing items from the Police Department's evidence room.
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A retired Harrisburg city police officer and another, who was still on the force until Friday, have been charged in connection with stealing guns from an evidence room at police headquarters.
Officer Frank Peskie, 59, who is retired from the force, is charged in connection with taking two handguns from the evidence room while he was in charge of the space in the 1990s.
That came to light in November 2009 when his daughter was involved in a road rage incident and told police she had a weapon.
A check of the handgun determined it was supposed to have been destroyed. Peski admitted to taking another weapon as well.
Officer David Earl Black, 43, of Mechanicsburg, was also charged in connection with taking a handgun from the evidence room last year and tampering with evidence by removing the serial number on the gun.
The arrests were announced by District Attorney Ed Marsico Friday afternoon along with Mayor Linda Thompson and Police Chief Pierre Ritter.
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They all said it is a sad day for the citizens of Harrisburg who put their trust in the two officers only to have them break the laws they are sworn to uphold.
Both officers were arraigned Friday on the charges and released on their own recognizance. A preliminary hearing on the charges is the next step.
City officials said they have made significant changes in the way evidence is accounted for, including videotaping evidence before it is taken away to be destroyed.
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