TimesLeader.com

Council fires W. Pittston cop

Officer Joseph Campbell, a 22-year veteran, was fired for unspecified reasons.

By Jen Marckini jmarckini@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

WEST PITTSTON – Borough council terminated veteran borough police officer Joseph Campbell Thursday night.

Officials would not comment on whether the firing is connected to an ongoing missing money probe being conducted by the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office.

Five borough council members voted unanimously to end the employment of Campbell, a full-time patrolman who served 22 years with West Pittston Police Department, Mayor William Goldsworthy confirmed.

Council voted during a special meeting regarding a sewer project.

Goldsworthy, the elected official charged with overseeing police, said he suspended Campbell for conduct unbecoming of an officer earlier Thursday. Only the council can make hiring or firing decisions, he said.

The mayor said he could not confirm televised reports of missing money, but said the investigation has been ongoing for two months.

“As of this time, basically, our comment is that this is an ongoing investigation,” Goldsworthy said.

Campbell could not be reached for comment.

Luzerne County District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll confirmed Thursday her office is investigating missing money involving the police department’s D.A.R.E. program. About $3,000 is missing from the drug prevention education program, she said.

A county detective has been assigned to the case, Musto Carroll said. She would not confirm if the missing money probe involves Campbell and if his termination was connected.

“We are not confirming he is the one under investigation at this point,” she said.

Charges have not been filed.