Former Berks sheriff's deputy charged with stealing from evidence locker

October 30, 2016

A former Berks County sheriff's deputy was charged Thursday with stealing money from an evidence locker he believed was property seized in a drug investigation by Harrisburg police, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Harrisburg Police Cpl. Sean Cornick, 44, was charged with theft of money that belonged to a federal agency and removing property to prevent its seizure after authorities said he was caught on videotape stealing cash from an evidence locker he believed was property seized in a drug investigation.An inventory later confirmed money was missing from the locker.

Cornick, who served as the supervisor of the Harrisburg Bureau of Police's Vice Unit, was released Thursday under conditions that he post a $10,000 signature bond, restrict his travel to the Middle District, surrender his passport, have no contact with potential witnesses in the case and is prohibited from having firearms.

"It is always a sad day when fellow law enforcement officers are alleged to have broken the laws they have sworn to uphold," said U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler. "Our office takes these matters very seriously and we greatly appreciate the assistance and cooperation of the Harrisburg Police Department and Pennsylvania State Police in conducting this investigation."Cornick's LinkedIn page said he graduated from Reading Police Academy and worked for the Berks County Sheriff's Department.
Berks County Sheriff Eric J. Weaknecht confirmed Cornick worked for the sheriff's department.Cornick joined the Harrisburg Police Department's Uniform Patrol Division in 1997 and was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division in 2005. He began serving as the vice unit supervisor in September 2015.