web1_Steelers-AB-BB-CMYK.jpg

Streaking Steelers, Titans look to make statement

web1_siren.jpg

Coroner: Pennsylvania mom dies while trying to clean up after son’s overdose

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; For the second time in four months, the head of the city&#8217;s police union faces suspension, turning up the heat on the simmering dispute with the mayor and chief.</p><p>Sgt. Phil Myers, president of the Wilkes-Barre Police Benevolent Association, said he was notified of the disciplinary action and intends to fight it.</p><p>&#8220;I will confirm that I have recently received a notice of a significant unpaid suspension,&#8221; Myers said in an email late Wednesday. &#8220;I have not served it yet, and am waiting for notice when it will begin. The suspension will be appealed through the grievance procedure by the PBA.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;Unfortunately, at this point, I can&#8217;t give much more,&#8221; Myers said. &#8220;The administration has clearly established a pattern of targeting union officials.&#8221;</p><p>But Mayor Tony George said that&#8217;s not the case.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re targeting people who aren&#8217;t doing what they&#8217;re supposed to be doing,&#8221; George said Thursday.</p><p>A private complaint was filed against Myers, and it&#8217;s not related to his union position, said George, a former police chief.</p><p>&#8220;Somebody came and complained about him,&#8221; George said.</p><p>The pending suspension precedes an independent review of the police department that was set in motion by an earlier round of disciplinary actions, including the suspension of Myers and the firing of Officer Dan Duffy, the union&#8217;s vice president and former Scranton police chief. Those actions came after the two posted alleged confidential department policy on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Wilkes-Barre-City-Police-Benevolent-Association-1052002998168298/" target="_blank">union&#8217;s Facebook</a> page in April.</p><p>In a Sept. 15 post, the union confirmed Myers and Duffy were notified in June of their suspensions. Then on Oct. 18, the union posted news of Duffy&#8217;s termination for allegedly threatening the mayor and city Administrator Ted Wampole in an email sent in defense of a PBA member the union believes was wrongly accused by a department commander.</p><p>The union, representing more than 70 patrol officers, detectives, sergeants and lieutenants, has been battling Chief Marcella Lendacky and the administration for more than a year. The PBA sent a 13-page letter to city council and the mayor prior to his appointment of Lendacky as chief in March 2016, saying despite more than 20 years on the force she had very limited background in police work and that it had &#8220;no confidence&#8221; in her ability to lead the department.</p><p><strong>Review pending</strong></p><p>Last week, city council approved the hiring of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association &#8212; at a cost of $26,212 &#8212; to conduct a review of the police department and provide recommendations to eliminate the discord between the union and administration.</p><p>&#8220;The city administration and the chief of police recognize not all existing department policies and procedures are consistent with accepted best practice standards and are lacking in completeness and clarity,&#8221; the PCPA said in its proposal to the city. &#8220;The deficiencies hamper internal discipline, and effective and efficient delivery of services.&#8221;</p><p>Although the union and administration found common ground in approving the review, they remained divided on paying for it. The PBA was steadfast in having the city foot the bill. The administration, on the other hand, said it would be nice if the union helped with the cost. Without a contribution, the unbudgeted expense will come out of the city&#8217;s general fund budget that&#8217;s projected to end the year at more than $300,000 in the red.</p><p>But the added cost could be a plus if it cuts the legal fees the city has been paying to respond to labor complaints filed by the union, city council said. Through October, the city has paid $46,554, exceeding the $25,000 budgeted this year. Last year, the city paid $78,021 in legal fees for police labor issues.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_myers-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Myers</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_myers-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Myers</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Phil Myers, head of Wilkes-Barre police union, faces second suspension