Connellsville Council approves officer’s resignation
CONNELLSVILLE — A crowd of about 20 people attended Monday’s meeting when City Council unanimously accepted the resignation of Officer Ryan Reese.
Council met for nearly an hour in executive session to discuss a personnel matter, and, when council members emerged, they announced Reese’s resignation.
Police Chief James Capitos issued a written statement about Reese.
His statement said the police understand the community’s concern about the matter and acknowledged there is an ongoing investigation of some type. That investigation — the details of which he did not go into — is not being handled by city police, though his department is “cooperating fully with investigators and supports their efforts,” Capitos said.
Capitos’ statement said police are not permitted to make any comments at this time regarding the investigation.
“When the time comes, it will be the investigating agency that will release the findings of their investigation,” the statement said.
Reese was placed on administrative leave Dec. 18.
Capitos said that due to lack of police knowledge about the investigation, “putting Reese on administrative leave was the only responsible thing to do.”
Mayor Greg Lincoln echoed much the same point and told those who attended that Monday’s meeting was not a forum intended for personal attacks. He said council’s decision was a point to “sever ties” with Reese. Lincoln said this is an investigation into one officer, not any other officer within the department.
Council member Greg Ritch added, “If there are any other individuals that are involved in any activity that is unbecoming an officer of this great city, they will be dealt with accordingly by this council and this mayor.”
Ritch offered high praise to city police.
“I’ve come to know the officers on our police force from our chief on down,” he said. “They are very professional, honest and take their jobs seriously. I personally would not want to be a police officer these days with the climate in our country. I do support them. We’re talking about one officer. We’re dealing with the facts as we know them tonight.”
Ritch said the police have cooperated fully with investigators and are going on the same information as council and mayor have been provided. He didn’t want the police department “painted with the same brush” because of the investigation.
“This pains our chief of police and the rest of our police force in doing their job. They do their job and are very professional,” he said.
Lincoln said Reese’s resignation was submitted Monday after the agenda for the regularly scheduled meeting had been prepared for council.
Reese had been a police officer for a little more than 14 years. He was promoted to sergeant in 2011.
Jack Halfhill of Lemont Furnace voiced his concerns about the future of Reese’s pension.
Lincoln said state law — not City Hall — controls Reese’s pension.
Lincoln said once a police officer gains 12 years of service, that person can vest their pension, which means they can’t touch that money until 20 years tolls. He said that means Reese wouldn’t be able to collect his pension for about another six years.
However, Lincoln said, if the investigation leads to an arrest and a felony conviction, state law permits forfeiture of a pension. He said if a crime falls within that law, Reese could potentially lose his pension.
Lincoln said per the city’s contract with the police union, Reese is also entitled to whatever sick leave and comp time he has remaining this year. Lincoln said if Reese would not have resigned this year, the city would have moved for a hearing to terminate his employment in the new year. If that had happened, the city would owe Reese more money for his salary, vacation/sick time, holiday pay and uniform allowance, Lincoln said.
Cecilia Driscoll of Morrell Avenue asked how Reese’s future employment options would be affected because he resigned instead of potentially being terminated. She was worried that since he left by his own accord, that any future employer would not be allowed to know about the investigation.
City Solicitor Jim Witt said anything connected with the investigation would be a part of Reese’s record. He said the city could provide a potential employer with report as to Reese’s service, particularly if he were charged, as well as any proven misconduct.
After the meeting, Lincoln offered praise for police by emphasizing that this is an investigation into one officer, not the whole department.
“It is very unfortunate what is occurring now in the city,” he said. “The most important part is that this is about one police officer, not the whole department. Our police department has done a very good job for our city. I don’t want the whole department to be unfairly brought into this matter.”