Penn State Police Dispatcher Helped Former Student Illegally Access Law Enforcement Radios, Investigators Say

A Penn State University Police dispatcher was charged on Tuesday for allegedly stealing equipment and helping a former student auxiliary officer illegally access law enforcement radio programming.

Edward J. Veneziano II, 40, of Liberty Township, is also accused of accessing databases without authorization for use in his separate role as a constable.

Veneziano in 2024 allowed Zuoyu “Eric” Wu inside the Penn State University Police dispatch center, where Wu accessed a Pennsylvania State Police radio to bypass its security protections and obtain its programming information, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by a university police detective. In the presence of Veneziano, who knew the purpose of the activity, Wu connected the radio to computer equipment that he used to access and extract its electronic configuration and programming data, the detective wrote.

Wu was arrested in May on charges of unlawful use of computers and computer trespass for allegedly accessing protected computers, programs and equipment outside the scope of his duties as a student auxiliary officer between 2021 and 2024. A document filed before his arraignment and later viewed by StateCollege.com indicated that Wu is the subject of a federal investigation related to “critical infrastructure,” though the specifics have not been disclosed.

Video recovered by investigators from Wu’s cell phone showed him manipulating the state police radio inside the dispatch center while Veneziano could be heard speaking in the background, according to the affidavit. Scheduling records confirmed that Veneziano was working dispatch at the time the video was recorded, and he was not authorized to grant Wu permission to bypass the security protections and obtain data from the radio, the detective wrote.

“The University is aware of the criminal charges,” a Penn State police spokesperson wrote in an email on Tuesday. “As this matter involves an ongoing legal process and personnel considerations, the University is unable to provide additional comment.”

Communications between the two showed Veneziano repeatedly asked Wu to obtain state police and other public safety radio channels and program them into his personal radio, according to the affidavit. The investigation also found that at least three times between 2019 and 2023, Centre County Emergency Communications denied Veneziano’s requests to place public safety channels and talk groups on his personal radio.

A radio seized during a search of Veneziano’s residence was programmed with numerous public safety channels and talk groups he was not authorized to have, and Veneziano admitted in a May interview to conspiring with Wu to program them, according to the affidavit.

Investigators said they found the radio was configured to permit transmission on the channels, not merely for passive display.

The radio further was found to have a network that Wu admitted to programming there and that it was “utilized for encrypted communications to avoid law enforcement detection,” the detective wrote.

Wu and Veneziano also worked together on the sale and programming of radios for the Howard Fire Company, with the equipment imported from China and arriving in a modified condition that enabled them to receive unauthorized programming, according to the affidavit.

At Veneziano’s direction, Wu programmed the radios with channels and talk groups associated with Centre County and Clinton County agencies and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources that investigators confirmed were not authorized, the detective wrote.

Wu paid Veneziano $460 for facilitating the sale, and investigators uncovered invoices and emails documenting $16,000 in payments from the fire company to Wu via Veneziano, according to the affidavit.

In a separate transaction, investigators said they found Veneziano and Wu worked together on the sale and similar programming of radios for the Warrior’s Mark Fire Company.

The investigation also found that Veneziano allegedly misused his dispatcher access to multiple restricted law enforcement databases for his separate work as a Centre County constable. Audit logs found he searched systems for personal or constable business without authorization and in violation of the law and university policy multiple times from 2023 through this year, the detective wrote.

Centre County Judge Jonathan Grine on Tuesday issued an order suspending Veneziano from his constable position, prohibiting him from being assigned any court-related services until further notice.

Investigators allegedly learned that Veneziano told Wu to divert Penn State police property that the department’s quartermaster had directed Wu to take to the university incinerator for destruction. A search of Veneziano’s residence found department property including radio batteries, a high-visibility police vest, holsters, a gas mask bag, body armor, a patrol jacket, a citation pad, police patches, electronic hearing protection and a jump pack, according to the affidavit.

Veneziano is charged with felony counts of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities; distribution, use or possession of devices for theft of telecommunications services; computer trespass; and criminal trespass. He is also charged with two misdemeanor counts of receiving stolen property and theft.

He was arraigned on Tuesday morning by District Judge Casey McClain, who set unsecured bail at $100,000.

A preliminary hearing for Aug. 26.

Wu remains in custody in lieu of $2 million bail. A pre-trial conference in his case is scheduled for Sept. 14.