Democratic candidate for Bucks County Sheriff Dennis McCauley called on the state attorney general to release the results of a 2011 grand jury investigation into the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office Friday at the Bucks County Courthouse.
McCauley will face off against Sheriff Edward “Duke” Donnelly in the general election for the job of sheriff says the public has the right to know where the issue stands in light of the upcoming election.
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McCauley, citing popular media reports, in a letter to Attorney Gneral Kathleen Kane dated June 14 is requesting a public report to be issued addressing “the specific allegations reported by the media,” about the investigation into the department.
Reports by Fox 29 and the PhillyBurbs.com, during July of 2011, say Sheriff Edward “Duke” Donnelly, and several deputy sheriff’s were subpoenaed by the grand jury to testify amid allegations of “political corruption ” at the department as well as reports a crucial witness invoked their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination when called upon by the panel.
McCauley’s letter to Kane spells a number of “points” that need to be addressed publicly before the November general election because “…voters have been kept in the dark” regarding the outcome of the investigation.
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“While I have great respect for the grand jury process it is my strong belief the people of Bucks County deserve better,” his letter says.
Among the number of questions McCauley seeks to have answered by Kane, who was not in office at the time the investigation was initiated.
- What specific allegations were under investigation?
- Were there any findings confirming the types of allegations reported by the media?
- Which official of the Bucks County Sheriffs Department refused to answer questions by invoking his/her right against self-recrimination?
- Which specific question from the panel prompted that response from the official?
- Will the grand jury reconvene at some future point?
- Does the AG’s office have plans to further the investigation?
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“Its critically important in 2013, an election year for the office of Sheriff,” McCauley says, “that the results of the investigation be made public.”
Donnelly is seeking a fourth term as the counties top sheriff. He has has been if office for 10 years.
Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler, who reportedly started the investigation handed it off to the state attorney general’s office back in May of 2011, the Fox 29 report says.
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McCauley also notes in his letter to Kane, that he holds her in high esteem and realizes that the investigation took place look before she took office.
