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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; There&#8217;s been no police chief to run the department since June and no search underway to fill the post. Still, Mayor Tony George budgeted $98,345 for the position next year.</p><p>The budget entry serves as a placeholder in the event the post is filled, explained city Administrator Ted Wampole. And it&#8217;s likely to be filled from within the department.</p><p>&#8220;There is no ongoing search,&#8221; Wampole said Wednesday.</p><p>Commander Joseph Coffay has been in charge of the force since former Chief Marcella Lendacky retired in June. Should Coffay be appointed chief, his $84,618-a-year position would be open and that&#8217;s why it&#8217;s also included in the mayor&#8217;s $50.4 million balanced budget proposal presented Monday, Wampole pointed out. Police are budgeted for 3 percent raises next year due to a negotiated contract. No other city employees are budgeted for raises.</p><p>A message left for Coffay was not immediately returned.</p><p>The city began its search for a new chief in April shortly after an independent review of the department by the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association released a report critical of Lendacky&#8217;s management. The review was requested by city council to resolve the discord between senior police management and rank-and-file officers.</p><p>Lendacky gave notice she would leave in June, a little more than two years after she was appointed to the post that paid $95,481 a year plus benefits.</p><p>A total of 13 candidates, including some from within the department, applied for the chief&#8217;s job. A committee created by the George administration reviewed the applications and conducted interviews before recommending two finalists to the mayor.</p><p>Ultimately, no one was selected as negotiations stalled over pay and benefits. The mayor put the search on hold in late June.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Coffay </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL060818WBMeeting2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Coffay </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>

Wilkes-Barre’s 2019 budget includes police chief post, though no one in job