Ex-cop charged with lying on form

By Terrie Morgan-Besecker tmorgan@timesleader.comLaw & Order Reporter

AVOCA – A former borough police officer who was involuntarily committed to a mental institution several years ago has been charged with one count of unsworn falsification to authorities for lying about the commitment on an application for recertification as a police officer, according to state police at Wyoming.

Police say Michael Joseph Sekelsky, 36, of Lampman Street, Avoca, provided false information on an application he submitted to the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission, which certifies all officers in Pennsylvania.

In a related matter, Avoca Police Chief Edward Lukowich is facing possible revocation of his certification because he verified the information Sekelsky provided was true, according to borough solicitor Charles McCormick.

McCormick said Lukowich has been on paid suspension since March, when he told borough officials the commission had notified him it would seek to revoke his certification. McCormick said Lukowich has sought a hearing on that issue. Council is awaiting a ruling on the matter before determining whether further employment action should be taken, he said.

The problems surrounding Sekelsky and Lukowich stem from answers Sekelsky gave on a waiver of training form he submitted to the training commission on May 20, 2002, according to an arrest affidavit.

The application asks applicants if they have ever been deemed incompetent or involuntarily committed under the state’s mental health act – an action that precludes a person from owning a firearm. Sekelsky answered “No” to that question, but state police confirmed he had been committed to an institution on Feb. 26, 2000, according to the affidavit.

Information regarding the reason Sekelsky was involuntarily committed was not available from the Luzerne County Courthouse because those records are sealed.

Sekelsky also provided false information regarding his mental health commitment on applications he completed to purchase a pistol on Jan. 4 and Jan. 5, 2002, the affidavit says. Those applications were denied after the state’s instant check system uncovered his mental health commitment. State police notified him of the reason for the denial on Jan. 11, 2002, the affidavit says.

Neither Sekelsky nor Lukowich could be reached for comment Monday.

Sekelsky had been employed by the borough from 1991 to 2000 and again from May 2002 until June 2006, when his police certification was revoked by the police training commission. The commission took the action after learning he had failed to disclose that he was involuntarily committed, according to court papers he filed in connection with a civil appeal of the commission’s action.

Training commission applications contain a section that warns applicants they could be subject to criminal prosecution if they provide any false information. It could not be determined Monday whether Lukowich might also face criminal prosecution.

The investigating officer, Trooper Lisa Brogan, did not immediately return a phone message left at the station Monday afternoon.

Unsworn falsification to authorities is a second-degree misdemeanor. Sekelsky faces a preliminary hearing on the charge on July 10 in Central Court in Wilkes-Barre.