Monroeville Hires Private Investigator To Conduct Internal Probe

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Allegheny County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For the second time in the past year, Monroeville has hired a private investigator to conduct an internal probe of the municipality’s turbulent affairs.

Interim Manager Timothy Little on Wednesday confirmed the existence of a broad and comprehensive investigation that will address, among other issues, recent personnel upheaval that involved his predecessor, the current police chief and several 911 dispatchers who were fired.

“We just want to get to the truth of what occurred here, that’s all,” Mr. Little said.

CSI Western PA is conducting the investigation. Its managing director, Joe Bellissimo, declined comment, citing client confidentiality and the ongoing nature of his work.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2014/04/03/New-investigation-personnel-Monroeville/stories/201404030243#ixzz2xqhYSNG9

Colebrookdale Township Names New Police Chief

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  Congratulations Dave!

The Colebrookdale Township commissioners have named a new police chief.

Sgt. David Viola, who has served as officer-in-charge since the December retirement of Chief Christopher Schott, was permanently promoted to the post, effective Oct. 1, at the commissioners meeting Monday.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=512181

Monroeville Municipal Manager Threatened After Firing Former Police Chief

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Police are investigating a threatening letter left at the home of municipal manager Lynette McKinney last week.

Police Chief Steven Pascarella said police are awaiting results from the crime lab.

“It’s credible enough that we’re taking additional precautions,” he said without elaboration.

Ms. McKinney said today she was “disturbed” by suggestions in the community that the letter was placed by Ms. McKinney herself.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-east/monroeville-manager-threatened-after-firing-former-police-chief-703720/#ixzz2fC1VIqCa

Monroeville Police Investigating Threat Against Municipal Manager

Map of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Monroeville police are investigating a threatening letter received by municipal manager Lynette McKinney on Thursday night at her home, an official said Friday morning.

Mayor Greg Erosenko said the letter threatens McKinney and her family in retaliation for recent disciplinary actions she has taken against former police chief Doug Cole, who she fired Wednesday.  Police were dusting the letter for fingerprints as of this morning, he said.

McKinney was not available for comment this morning.  Police Chief Steve Pascarella also was not available for comment.

“If we can find out who the actor or actors are, we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law,” Erosenko said.

Read more: http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/4700476-74/police-erosenko-council#ixzz2en6ZlLmV 
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Harrisburg’s Interim Police Chief Talks Reallocation Of Officers, New Hires During Public Safety Hearing

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Harrisburg‘s interim police chief reiterated his passion for community policing during a panel discussion on public safety Thursday held by Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Papenfuse.

During the discussion, Chief Thomas Carter provided further details regarding the plan he presented earlier this week alongside Mayor Linda Thompson to dissolve several specialty police units in order to beef up the city’s overworked regular patrol.  Under the plan, 17 officers from groups such as the traffic and street crimes units will be pulled from the chief’s office to resume regular patrols, Carter said.

“We put them back into the fold,” the interim chief said.  “The basis of every strong police department is to have patrol officers out there to answer your calls, and we did not have that.”

Carter, who was appointed by Thompson after former Chief Pierre Ritter retired late last month, told the small audience at Thursday’s hearing that, while he believes such steps should have been taken as long as a year ago, he does not fault his predecessor for not making the call.

Read more: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/09/harrisburgs_interim_police_chi.html#incart_m-rpt-2

Demoted Monroeville Police Chief Terminated

Map of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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

Allentown Officials Name Interim Police Chief; Announce Other Promotions

The PPL Building (seen here in the distance) is the tallest building in Allentown, Pennsylvania. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Allentown officials announced an interim police chief and other promotions at a ceremony Friday.

Allentown police Assistant Chief Joseph Hanna has been named interim chief. Hanna and most of the top brass will be retiring this year under terms of a pension deal they signed almost five years ago.

Allentown police Capt. George Medero was also promoted to the department’s assistant chief, the first Latino to be named to the position.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-allentown-police-retirement-promotion-ceremony-20130906,0,697661.story#ixzz2e8d1HBaZ
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Harrisburg Police Chief Pierre Ritter To Retire; Mayor To Name Replacement Thursday

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Harrisburg officials will hold a news conference Thursday to announce the retirement of city police Chief Pierre Ritter.

Mayor Linda Thompson also is expected to announce Ritter’s successor, said Robert Philbin, the city’s interim chief operating officer.

Ritter was named chief in January 2010.  He has been on the city’s police force for more than 30 years.

Read more: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/08/harrisburg_police_chief_pierre_2.html#incart_river_default

Fired West Reading Chief Coming Back As Patrolman, Sources Say

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  We think this is a bad idea…just sayin’.

West Reading’s fired Police Chief Edward C. Fabriziani will return to the force as a patrolman in a deal being ironed out by borough officials, borough sources said.

Fabriziani, who was fired in November, is listed on the patrol schedule starting in April to cover other officers’ vacations, according to borough sources.

Borough council is expected to vote on the matter either at its regular March meeting or at a special meeting.

Fabriziani could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=455592

 

Fired West Reading Police Chief Seeks To Return To Work

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

West Reading‘s fired police chief could be returning to the streets as a patrolman under terms being negotiated, borough officials have confirmed.

Ex-Chief Edward C. Fabriziani was slated to appear before the borough’s Civil Service Commission tonight for a hearing seeking reinstatement and back pay.

That hearing, however, has been postponed to allow for further negotiations, Fabriziani’s attorney, Kevin A. Moore, has confirmed.

A Jan. 15 letter from Moore to West Reading solicitor Daniel C. Becker, obtained by the Reading Eagle and confirmed by two borough officials, outlines terms being discussed.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=444948

Murders, Shootings Up; Reading Police Chief Calls For More Funds

Editor’s note:  You can’t revitalize with high crime.  Glad to see the Chief is being proactive before crime returns to dangerous levels!

The number of homicides and shooting victims in Reading, which had dropped from 2001 to 2009, began to pick up again in the past three years, Police Chief William M. Heim told City Council during budget talks Monday.

Heim said part of the reason for the increase is fewer patrol officers and criminal investigators due to city budget cuts the past three years.

However, he and acting Capt. Madison Winchester said they believe that, with two dozen new officers coming out of training late this year, the crime numbers will start to drop again in 2013.

Dividing the time from 2001 to 2012 into four periods, Heim said major crimes dropped from a high of 7,268 in 2001-03 to 5,984 in 2010-12, although this year isn’t yet over.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=421235

Pottstown Works Toward Tightening ‘Charge-Backs’ For Police Costs

POTTSTOWN — The borough’s efforts to make property owners bear more of the burden of repeated police calls to properties with misbehaving occupants will take another step forward Monday when council is set to vote to advertising a toughening of the “charge-back” ordinance.

Already on the books, the ordinance levies a charge for police services when officers are called too often to the same location for disturbances.

The problem with the existing ordinance, Police Chief Mark Flanders has said, is that it exempts too many categories of criminal activity from the burden.

In April, Borough Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. was tasked by council’s safety committee with finding ways to close those loopholes.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120810/NEWS01/120819959/pottstown-works-toward-tightening-charge-backs-for-police-costs