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<p>NANTICOKE &#8212; A Luzerne County judge has determined that Nanticoke Police Chief Thomas Wall was hired illegally.</p><p>If the order stands, the city would have to have a new chief by Oct. 1.</p><p>But the mayor is promising to appeal this week&#8217;s ruling.</p><p>Judge William H. Amesbury&#8217;s order comes in the wake of a suit that was filed shortly after Wall&#8217;s 2016 hiring. The suit, filed by the City of Nanticoke Police Officers Association, alleges that the city violated state law in hiring Wall. </p><p>Wall, a retired state trooper, was appointed by Mayor Richard Wiaterowski. But state law requires that a candidate for chief must be chosen from within the ranks of the police department. If a suitable candidate cannot be found within the ranks, only then can an outsider be appointed.</p><p>The union alleged that this step was skipped, despite Lieutenant Michael Roke expressing interest in the position after it opened following the 2016 death of Chief William Shultz.</p><p>The union also suggested a conflict of interest, given Wall&#8217;s position on the Police Civil Service Commission. The union also pointed out Wall&#8217;s wife, Donna, is the interim city manager.</p><p>Judge Amesbury&#8217;s decision affirms a motion filed by the union in May 2017, which asked for an order removing Wall from office.</p><p>This week&#8217;s order does just that. It states that Wiaterowski will have to appoint a new chief Oct. 1 unless the city appeals the ruling.</p><p>The mayor said an appeal will happen.</p><p>&#8220;The city respectfully disagrees with the Court&#8217;s opinion and will be appealing this decision to a higher court,&#8221; Wiaterowski said in a statement sent to a Times Leader reporter Friday. &#8220;We are confident that this appointment was proper and in accordance with my powers as Mayor of the City of Nanticoke.&#8221;</p><p>Efforts to reach Wall for comment were not immediately successful Friday afternoon.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wall </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_wall.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wall </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Patrick Kernan</p><p>pkernan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Patrick Kernan at 570-991-6386 or on Twitter @PatKernan</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Judge says Nanticoke police chief hired illegally; mayor promises appeal