Amid controversy dating back to February, Cass Township supervisors voted last week to disband its own police force.
The vote came on May 30 at the regular supervisors meeting.
Rather than use its own police force, Cass Twp. will rely on State Police to cover the municipality.
Back in February, supervisors called a rare midday special meeting at which they voted to suspend police operations.
At that time, Solicitor Mark Semanchik said a report had been filed with a state agency by an officer who wasn’t on the Cass Twp. force at that time. Semanchik said the township records showed that he resigned a year prior.
“How could someone who is indicated in our records to be a former officer … how could that officer be filing paperwork with a department of the state, representing himself as a member of our police department,” Semanchik asked in February.
A week prior to that special meeting, Cass Twp. Police Chief Gerard Daley resigned from his position. He told the Republican Herald that an accusation had been made against him and another officer.
Daley said the State Police closed its investigation but “I felt it was in my best interest to resign.”
The chief also said that the officer who allegedly filed that form with the state had been on the Cass Twp. force up until a week prior to his resignation.
Cass Twp. Supervisors Chair Brenda Helt did not respond to a phone call and text for comment. Semanchik did not return a phone call placed to his law office and on Wednesday, at Schuylkill Haven Borough Council where he’s also Solicitor, told The Canary he likely wouldn’t have returned the call.
Semanchik also refused to answer any questions on Wednesday regarding Cass Twp.
STAY TUNED: There is more to investigate and report regarding this story. We hope to have updates in the coming week.
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