Conshohocken cop busted in parking-meter coin scheme

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman and Conshohocken Police Chief Michael Orler announced this afternoon that a 22-year veteran of the borough police department has been busted for allegedly stealing coins – a lot of them – from parking meters.

Sgt. Anthony Santoro was charged today with theft and related offenses after Orler noticed him "secretly move a filled manila envelop from the police car to his personal car" in July during coin collections. County detectives launched an investigation and last week busted Santoro with nearly $400 in coins that he allegedly skimmed that day while the parking officer wasn't looking.

Ferman said Santoro, who joined the force in 1988, admitted to detectives that he began the scheme in October 2009 and had stolen coins 14 times. He has been suspended without pay.

"There is no greater betrayal of the community than when a law enforcement officer becomes a criminal," Ferman said. "Acts like those alleged here serve to undermine the public trust in police officers and unfairly tarnish the reputations of the countless hard-working, dedicated, honest, professional law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line and serve our community on a daily basis."