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By KASIA KOPEC and LAUREN ROTH kkopec@leader.net
Thursday, March 20, 2003 Page: 9A
SUGAR NOTCH – Both borough police officers resigned last week, leaving
residents without a police department.
Charles Byra and John Vanderlick resigned Friday because they both found
jobs with better hours and pay elsewhere. Police chief Fred Pascoe is on
medical leave and could not be reached for comment.
“We weren’t trying to make a statement, going out at the same time,” Byra
said. Their resignations, sent to council president and the police chief, were
intended to be effective Monday, but Mayor Patrick Mullin told them to drop
off their things immediately, he said.
A concerned resident who did not want to give his name said the officers
quit because of an ongoing dispute with the mayor, who is in charge of the
department.
Byra said there was “some dissatisfaction,” but no more than many
employees have with their employers. “It was the lowest paying of the three
jobs I had.”
“The mayor doesn’t let them do their jobs,” the citizen said.
Mullin’s number is unlisted and he could not be reached for comment
Wednesday. In addition to his work in Sugar Notch, Byra works part-time for
the Ashley and Warrior Run police departments. Vanderlick could not be
reached.
Byra emphasized that the town would not be totally without coverage because
Ashley, Warrior Run and Hanover Township have a shared services agreement with
the borough. The departments provide backup for each other, meaning the
resignations could potentially have an impact in those communities as well.
Councilman Matt Lukachinsky said he knew nothing of the resignations until
told about them by a reporter Wednesday morning.
“Wow, that’s news to me,” Lukachinsky said. “I was out of town
yesterday, but I haven’t heard anything about it.”
Councilman Bernard McDade said a neighbor told him about the officers
leaving. A 10-year council veteran, McDade said he had no inkling of a problem
between the department and the mayor.
“There’s been nothing,” he said. “As far as I know, it’s been a very
good working relationship.”
Council President George Gushanas said if there were a conflict between
officers and the mayor, he would not comment about it.
“That would be a personnel matter,” said Gushanas, who added he expects
borough officials will ask the state police to provide coverage until new
officers are hired or until other arrangements are made.