2 Coatesville Administrators Placed On Leave Amid District Lawsuit Action

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Caln Township, PA – Two Coatesville Area School District employees were placed on administrative leave last week at the same time the school board filed a lawsuit against two former administrators.

Assistant superintendent Angelo Romaniello and facilities worker Matthew Como, the son of former superintendent Richard Como, were placed on administrative leave effective last week.

Romaniello’s attorney, Robert Donatoni of West Chester, declined comment on the employment status of his client Friday. Attorney Paul Rubino, who’s representing Matt Como, also declined comment.

CASD superintendent Cathy Taschner did not release the names of the employees in the message sent to parents Thursday night. School district officials responded Friday to a right-to-know request submitted by the Daily Local News checking on the employment status of Matt Como and Romaniello.

Read more: http://www.dailylocal.com/general-news/20141122/2-coatesville-administrators-placed-on-leave-amid-district-lawsuit-action

LCTA Officials Placed On Leave After Charges

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Two key Luzerne County Transportation Authority figures charged Wednesday in the “ghost rider” scandal have been placed on administrative leave pending an emergency board meeting next week, according to a memo leaked to the media.

Executive Director Stanley J. Strelish, 60, is facing charges including theft by deception, tampering with public records, unsworn falsification, false swearing and obstructing justice. Operations Manager Robb Alan Henderson, 58, is charged with conspiring to tamper with public records, aiding the commission of a crime and conspiring to obstruct justice.

Prosecutors say the men’s orders led drivers to count hundreds of thousands of riders who didn’t exist, resulting in millions of dollars in overfunding from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

According to a memo to the board from authority solicitor Joseph M. Blazosek, Strelish and Henderson were placed on administrative leave during a personnel committee meeting Wednesday pending board action at an emergency meeting set for 5 p.m. Tuesday. The memo does not disclose whether the leave is paid or unpaid, and Blazosek did not return a message seeking comment Thursday.

Read more: http://citizensvoice.com/news/lcta-officials-placed-on-leave-after-charges-1.1698699

Man Shot To Death By Lititz Police Officer Is Identified As 2009 Warwick Grad

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The Lititz man fatally shot by police Saturday was a 2009 graduate of Warwick High School and attended Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, where he was named to the dean’s list multiple times.

Officials on Sunday released the name of the shooting victim, David P. Giliberti, who was shot and killed by a Lititz police officer.

According to his Facebook profile, the 22-year-old originally was from Cassadaga, N.Y.

The shooting occurred after police responded to 101 Arrowhead Drive just after 3 a.m. Saturday after Giliberti’s grandmother called 911 and said she needed help.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/934769_Man-shot-to-death-by-Lititz-police-officer-is-identified-as-2009-Warwick-grad.html#ixzz2oKDbfChp

Monroeville Council Suspends Top Official

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In a municipality already reeling from a controversy involving its police department, Monroeville‘s municipal manager was placed on administrative leave with pay Tuesday evening and could be completely removed from her position Jan. 6.

At a special council meeting, a four-member quorum voted to suspend longtime employee Lynette McKinney. Joe Sedlak was appointed acting manager.

Of those present, councilmen Steve Duncan, Nick Gresock and Jim Johns voted for her suspension, with member Bernhard Erb abstaining. Mr. Johns said he made the motion to slow Ms. McKinney’s spending.

Solicitor Bruce Dice said the process to legally remove the manager is intricate, though her duties ceased Tuesday night.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2013/11/27/Monroeville-council-suspends-top-official/stories/201311270151#ixzz2lrOWhtYc

Marysville Police Chief Fired By Borough Council

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Marysville Borough Council fired the borough’s police chief Monday night.

Carl Lehman, who had been a member of Marysville Police Department for 12 years, was fired for personnel reasons, said Scott Weaver, borough manager.

It was a unanimous vote of the seven-member council, he said. “He didn’t do anything illegal,” Weaver said, adding that there are “all kinds of allegations” circulating that are not true.

There was an investigation by the borough’s mayor and solicitor, Weaver said, which led to the chief’s firing.

Read more: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/10/marysville_police_chief_fired.html#incart_m-rpt-2

Demoted Monroeville Police Chief Terminated

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Former Monroeville police Chief Doug Cole, who was demoted to sergeant in February and then placed on paid administrative leave a week ago, has been terminated, manager Lynette McKinney confirmed late Wednesday night.

He was informed via a letter delivered this afternoon, she said.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-east/demoted-monroeville-police-chief-terminated-702873/#ixzz2egw7Hu00

Demoted Monroeville Police Chief Placed On Leave

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Former Monroeville police Chief Doug Cole, who was demoted to sergeant in February, has been placed on paid administrative leave, manager Lynette McKinney confirmed today.

She also confirmed that three dispatchers were fired for violating the computer usage policy of the municipality’s employee handbook.

She said Sgt. Cole was placed on leave Tuesday pending further action.

She declined to provide further details about the discipline against Sgt. Cole and would not name the terminated dispatchers.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-east/demoted-monroeville-police-chief-placed-on-leave-701953/#ixzz2dyxaCT92

All West Reading Police Officers Back On Streets

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The West Reading Police Department is back to full force following a firearms certification mix-up that temporarily took six officers off the streets.

Sgt. Keith Phillips, acting officer in charge, confirmed that all of the officers, including himself, had been recertified and returned to regular duty by Friday afternoon.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=457738

Firearms Certification Lapse Puts 6 West Reading Cops On Leave

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Editor’s note:  They sure are having one problem after another in the department!

Half of the West Reading Police Department, including the acting officer in charge, was placed on temporary administrative leave Thursday after it was discovered that the firearms certification for a department range instructor had lapsed.

Borough sources confirmed that six officers – five full-time and one part-time – were taken off the streets for the day as department officials worked to resolve the issue.

“Yes, I have officers who I have instructed the officer in charge that I do not want working until their firearms certifications have been updated,” West Reading Mayor Shane J. Keller said. “We have them scheduled (to be recertified) at 8 a.m. (today), so this will be taken care of relatively quickly.”

Keller declined to discuss who was at fault for the error.

Read more:   http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=457495

Mount Joy Borough Demotes Its Police Chief

Mount Joy Borough Council demoted its police chief to sergeant on Monday, finding he failed to “meet administrative expectations of the position.”

The decision ends six months of limbo for the borough and John O’Connell, who had been on paid administrative leave since July.

Bill Hall, chairman of the public safety committee, called the demotion a “reassignment agreement and release” that was agreed to by the borough and O’Connell in a motion offered to council.

Council voted 7-1 for the demotion, with Councilman Barry Mowrer opposing.  Councilman John Hiestand was absent.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/808599_Mount-Joy-Borough-demotes-its-police-chief.html#ixzz2JPq5KI6I

West Reading Committee Weighs Police Options

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A committee formed by West Reading officials last month is looking into the possibility of consolidating the borough’s police force.

James Gallen Jr., a borough councilman and committee member, said the committee – rounded out by Council President Kevin M. Conrad, Councilwoman Elizabeth Heckler and Mayor Shane J. Keller – will enter into discussions with neighboring municipalities and the state police regarding the future of West Reading’s troubled police department.

“We’re exploring consolidation as a cost-saving measure,” Gallen said, adding that Wyomissing would be “a natural fit.”

The talks will extend to other nearby departments, which could include Shillington, and Cumru and Spring townships, he added.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=420092

Penn State Child Abuse Scandal Fallout Continues

The fallout at Penn State continues.

In addition to Jerry Sandusky, JoePa, Tim Curley, Gary Schultz, Mike McQueary and Graham Spanier, you can add Second Mile charity CEO Jack Raykovitz to the growing cast of characters.  Mr. Raykovitz resigned Sunday after 28 years at the helm.  So far all the victims were boys in the Second Mile program.  Second Mile has retained Philadelphia law firm Archer & Greiner as its counsel.

Mike McQueary, on paid administrative leave, is apparently consulting with the Harrisburg law firm of Strokoff and Cowden, who specialize in employment law.  McQueary received death threats and is reportedly in hiding.  

McQueary is being handled differently than the others because he is a witness in the case and he also may fall under Pennsylvania’s whistleblower law.  The law includes protection for the whistleblower against firing, demotion or punishment.  McQueary’s status under this law is still being determined.