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By STEVE MOCARSKY [email protected]
Monday, August 09, 2004 Page: 3A
SUGARLOAF TWP. – The state has denied police certification for a recent
controversial hire made by township supervisors.
Maj. Richard Mooney, executive director of the state Municipal Police
Education and Training Commission, recently said the commission received an
application for municipal police certification for Timothy Charette.
Mooney said the application was denied because of Charette’s no-contest
plea to a reckless endangerment charge stemming from a July 2002 road-rage
incident in Lebanon County.
Township supervisor chairman Robert Stanziola said last week the commission
had informed the township of its decision.
Stanziola said he voted against hiring Charette and Kirk Wetzel as
part-time police officers because the township was waiting for a state agency
to conduct a study to determine whether additional police coverage was needed
in the township.
Supervisors Earl Miller and Joyce Stevens voted for Wetzel’s and Charette’s
hiring in July.
Stanziola declined to say whether Charette’s no-contest plea factored into
his voting decision.
Police Chief John Hudson did not return a call seeking comment.
However, officer Tom Brown, president of the township police association,
said Charette has not worked in the township since he quit in May 2002 and
that Wetzel has begun working shifts for the township.
Stanziola said Wetzel is authorized to work up to 16 hours per week. Wetzel
and Charette were hired with the understanding that they would split 32 hours
per week.
Two weeks ago, Brown defended the police association’s decision to
recommend Charette for hiring because of Charette’s previous good work for the
township.
Steve Mocarsky, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 459-2005.