W-b Area Tightens Sports Physicals 
Standardized Examinations, A Hernia Screening And Individual Medical Histories 
Are Now Part Of Going Out For A Sport In The School District

911 Man Testifies To Being Pressured 
Dispatcher Scott Davis Takes Stand In Trial For Cop Charged With Making False 
Alarms About A Fatal Helicopter Crash

By JOHN DECKER; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Wednesday, November 18, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE- The trial to determine whether Officer Christopher Matello
caused a false alarm by telling a county dispatcher that a helicopter had
crashed has shifted focus with conflicting county employee testimony. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Three 911 supervisors testified Tuesday that they met with a dispatcher
earlier this month to confront him on rumors that he planned to lie in order
to protect Matello. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Under prosecutor Joe Vullo's direct examination, the supervisors denied
dispatcher Scott Davis' earlier accusation that they coerced him into omitting
details to protect the agency and one of its dispatchers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Davis had testified Monday that "they intimidated me to change my
testimony." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Joe Thomas, who oversees all dispatchers, was the first of the supervisors
to testify. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Thomas testified that he, Davis, supervisor Jim Connors, and Deputy
Director Al Pugh met privately to discuss the rumor circulating at the 911
center in Hanover Township. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Thomas testified that after confronting Davis with the rumor, Davis told
his bosses that whoever started the rumor was lying. Thomas said he simply
told Davis to tell the truth at trial. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Davis, who was called to the stand Tuesday by Melnick, said he was not
Matello's friend and would not lie for him. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Connors and Pugh provided the same details of the meeting as Thomas. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Attorney Mike Melnick, who represents Officer Matello, seemed bewildered
that it took three supervisors to simply let Davis "know" about the rumor. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Luzerne County District Attorney Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. said Monday he
could not comment because the trial is ongoin

911 Supervisors Deny Coercion Accusation