Police Union President Files Criminal Complaint Against Falls Twp. Officials

A private criminal complaint has been filed against Falls Township officials by the head of the police union.

Police Association of Falls Township President George Thomas filed the complaint in District Judge Jan Vislosky’s courthouse earlier this week.

The complaint, which was obtained by LevittownNow.com, alleges that the entire Falls Township Board of Supervisors – Jeff Dence, Jeff Boraski, Brian Galloway, Erin Mullen, and John Palmer – and solicitor Michael Clarke violated the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act.

In his complaint, Thomas, a veteran Falls Township cop, said the township violated the state law by creating a human resources position for former Tullytown Borough police Chief Daniel Doyle and had him start work before the supervisors voted on the creation of the position at a public meeting. Doyle earns $130,000 per year and benefits.

Doyle is said to have started his job on September 18, but the supervisors didn’t vote on it until the September 25 meeting.

“The board voted to ratify this hiring after knowingly violating the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act,” the complaint states.

The union president also makes the allegation that the township hired Ken Geyer Real Estate Auctioneers on September 21 to auction old and unused equipment from the municipal complex ahead of renovation without voting on the move until the September 25 meeting. The auction was held prior to the vote.

“These actions are further examples of a course of conduct by the Falls Township Board of Supervisors, who have in the past, also voted in private executive sessions to terminate the employment of two Falls Township Police Department officers,” Thomas wrote in the complaint.

The Pennsylvania Sunshine Act mandates government bodies’ requirement to make meetings open and transparent to the public and media. It is different from Pennsylvania’s Right To Know law.

Falls Township’s solicitor has previously defended the move to vote on hiring Doyle after he was actually hired by the government.

After a request by this news organization to the supervisors and solicitor, a township spokesperson issued the below statement:

“The Board of Supervisors did not violate the Sunshine Act. The case law supports the Township’s position that it is appropriate for personnel matters to be discussed and voted upon during executive session. The auction contract was ratified after the auction took place because the building, and any remaining contents, had to be turned over to the contractor for demolition per the Township’s contract with the contractor. This timing necessitated the action taken. Both actions were, however, ratified at a subsequent public meeting. In addition, the complaint is barred by the Sunshine Act, as Officer Thomas was aware of both actions more than 30 days prior to the filing of the complaint, so the action is untimely. Further, police officers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are empowered to charge any individual with crimes as they see fit. The private criminal complaint process was established by the legislature for cases where citizens needed direct access to the District Attorney’s office. It is unclear why a police officer would utilize this process, and the Township is confident that the District Attorney’s office will decline to prosecute this frivolous matter without further wasting taxpayer dollars.”

In a phone interview, Thomas said he filed the complaint because he felt there should be more accountability for Falls Township taxpayers.

“We’re just sick of taking a back seat to their nonsense. Enough is enough and they need to be held accountable,” he said.

The police union president called on township residents to become more involved in their government and attend public meetings.

Thomas’ complaint was filed with Vislosky’s district court and has been forwarded to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office for review by a prosecutor.

The district attorney’s office, under the law, can decide to accept or reject a private criminal complaint, which can be filed by a citizen.

The district attorney’s office this week wasn’t able to comment because they had not yet received the complaint.

Private criminal complaints are rare, but they are allowed under state law. The law allows for any citizen to file a complaint to attempt to bring criminal charges against an individual.

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