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Inmate charged with intimidating alleged victim with repeated calls

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Wilkes-Barre’s longtime attorney is leaving

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; With its leader Officer Robert Collins suspended and facing a long list of sexual assault charges, the Wilkes-Barre Explorers program will be on a hiatus for an undetermined time.</p><p>It&#8217;s also unclear who will take over the youth program run by the Wilkes-Barre Police Department and affiliated with the Boy Scouts.</p><p>Scout Executive and CEO Mark Barbernitz of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council in Moosic on Thursday said program participants won&#8217;t meet or hold activities without a leader.</p><p>Collins, 53, of Mountain Top, was arrested and charged Tuesday with sexually assaulting four women while on duty between August 2013 and December 2014. He was released on $125,000 bail and has been placed on paid suspension from the department pending an internal investigation.</p><p>The former community policing officer took over as leader when the program was revived in late 2017. Collins served as a &#8220;role model&#8221; for the different activities for middle school boys and girls that included community outreach through the police department and a basketball team, Barbernitz said.</p><p>Unlike traditional scouting, the Explorers do not earn merit badges. But it has mentoring and character-building components for the estimated 30 participants, Barbernitz explained.</p><p>At this point, it&#8217;s up to the police department to decide where to go with the program, Barbernitz said. The department sponsors and owns the program charter. &#8220;They select and approve the leader,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Barbernitz would like to see the program continue. &#8220;Any time we can serve with positive character-building we need to do that,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Wilkes-Barre Police Chief Joseph Coffay agreed.</p><p>&#8220;I would like to continue anything that would contribute to the development of youth,&#8221; Coffay said.</p><p>The chief added that he would want more officers involved in the Explorers.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_R-Collins-mug-shot.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Collins </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_R-Collins-mug-shot.jpg</photo0><caption0>Collins </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>

Fate of WB Explorers program uncertain with charges pending against officer