A former police officer who has organized charity races in Cranberry Township is facing charges in Venango County after he allegedly failed to distribute proceeds and fees to various organizations.

Thomas John Burke, 33, of Norwegian Drive, Mars, is charged with theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, a felony, stemming from a 2017 agreement with the Oil City Police Department.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Venango County district court, Burke was contacted to plan and organize a 5K run-walk on June 17, 2017, in Oil City.

Through his company, Officers Down 5K, he planned charity events around the area and would receive a percentage of the event’s proceeds, which totaled $13,365. The Oil City Police Department expected to receive $2,339, or 20 percent, of the proceeds. Burke collected all of the money and would distribute proceeds as part of the agreement, the complaint states.

The contract set payment deadlines of Aug. 1, Aug. 25 and Sept. 25, which Burke is alleged to have missed.

Burke, through his attorney, gave the department a revised payment schedule Oct. 5, indicating he would immediately pay $250, with additional $250 payments on Nov. 28, Dec. 28 and Jan. 28. A final payment of $1,339.50 would be made Feb. 1, the complaint states. Only the initial check was disbursed, and had not been cashed by the department.

In an email Oct. 9, Burke’s attorney provided a breakdown of services and fees, including a line item labeled “timing” with a cost of $1,041. An officer spoke with the owner of Miles of Smiles Timing Services, who indicated he had not yet been paid by Burke for their service. He also disputed the amount, saying he was owed $400, the complaint states.

“Based on a document ... it is clear (Burke) falsely stated the costs he paid for timing services, billing the city for an additional $641,” the complaint states.

On Wednesday, Venango County Magistrate Matthew Kirtland found probable cause and held the charge for court. Burke is free on $15,000 bail.

The website for the Officers Down 5K organization was blank this week, and all references to future events appear to have been scrubbed from the Internet.

Burke has organized similar events in Cranberry Township, including one dubbed the “6th Annual Officers Down 5K & Community Day” on Nov. 19, 2017, at North Boundary Park. The seventh event was scheduled for May, though registration links and information are unavailable.

Pete Geis, township parks and recreation director, said the race had been tentatively set for the same day as the Pittsburgh Marathon, leading Burke to inquire about canceling and possibly changing the date. Township guidelines do not require payment until 30 days before the event, Geis said. He added that in previous years, Burke has his “bases all covered” in terms of insurance and payment.

Sgt. Chuck Mascellino of Cranberry Township Police Department said the department has not actively participated in events organized by Burke, and received no funding from those events.