5 day forecast
Monroeville manager McKinney to recommend hiring Pascarella as permanent police chief
Share with others:
Monroeville interim manager Lynette McKinney said today she will recommend council vote to hire acting police Chief Steven Pascarella to be the municipality's chief.
Chief Pascarella, formerly the assistant chief, was appointed to the acting chief position after last month's demotion of former Chief Doug Cole.
It's been a rocky few months in the municipality.
In January, former manager Jeff Silka resigned, saying he was told by a bloc of council members to remove then-Chief Cole or be fired himself.
Council accepted his resignation Jan. 31 and immediately appointed Ms. McKinney to the interim manager position. It is the second time she has held the post in as many years.
Two days after she was appointed, she demoted Chief Cole to the rank of sergeant, prompting a community outcry and demands to reinstate Sgt. Cole as chief.
Ms. McKinney said Chief Pascarella was the only applicant for the position. The job listing was posted in-house for two weeks, Ms. McKinney said, per the employee handbook, but not advertised elsewhere.
Chief Pascarella has served on the Monroeville police force for 25 years. He was sworn in as assistant chief in August 2011.
He is a lifelong Monroeville resident.
Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution to approve the appointment during a special meeting Thursday night.
If approved, he will be sworn in Tuesday evening.
First Published March 6, 2013 2:02 pm
