PITTSBURGH - Sheriff Pete DeFazio likely will retire next month, but he denies it is avoid indictment by the U.S. Attorney on charges that the Sheriff's office hit up underlings for "contributions" to DeFazio's political war chest. The Sheriff's office is planning a farewell party for DeFazio. All Sheriff's office underlings are being hit up to give DeFazio a cash retirement gift.
In related news, Allegheny County executive Dan Onorato is attempting to contact Abdul Sharif, son of actor Omar Sharif, to see if he is interested in the sheriff's job. "I don't know anything about him," Onorato said, "but I think it would be cool to have a Sheriff Sharif."
