The Big Ben misadventures in Milledgeville have created plenty of problems for the Steelers’ starting quarterback. The situation also has led to a presumably unwanted legal entanglement for the Pennsylvania State Police.
In the wake of the news that Ben Roethlisberger faced an allegation of sexual assault, reports emerged that Roethlisberger hired a pair of off-duty police officers to serve as his security guards. And both men have experienced scrutiny in the wake of the disclosure that they were working on the side for Roethlisberger.
Coraopolis police officer Anthony Barravechio could lose his job, and the involvement of a Pennsylvania State Police employee on Roethlisberger’s security detail has resulted in an attempt by the Associated Press to obtain from the State Police records regarding employee moonlighting.
The State Police resisted, and the AP filed a claim with Pennsylvania’s open-records agency. Per the AP, Pennsylvania’s open-records agency has ruled that the State Police must release the documents.
The AP apparently is interested in the full range of the moonlighting projects in which Edward Joyner has engaged, who reportedly has worked as Big Ben bodyguard, travel agent, contractor, dry cleaning deliveryman, personal shopper, car detailer, and valet, all while working sufficiently hard for the State Police to produce 602 hours of overtime in 2009. Prior reports indicate potential inconsistencies in the paperwork regarding the approvals that Joyner obtained for his side projects, including a suggestion that a key signature was forged.
The State Police may appeal the decision, which would then place it into the Pennsylvania court system.