Former Dormont police chief Phil Ross will hear the outcome of the appeal of his demotion tonight.

The three-person civil service commission will deliver its decision in the gym behind the borough building on Hillsdale Road at 7 p.m.

Officer Ross, who had served on the Dormont police force for 27 years and as chief for almost two, was demoted to sergeant in March. He was demoted again in June from sergeant to patrolman for ordering another officer to disable the global positioning devices in police cars.

The civil service commission's decision will only address the first demotion, which Officer Ross appealed in April.

At the appeal hearing, borough manager Gino Rizza, assistant manager Ian McMeans and council president Kim Lusardi testified that the demotion was due to insubordination to the manager and mismanagement of scheduling that led to budget overruns.

Scott Lautner, Officer Ross's attorney, said the demotion resulted from a personality conflict between Officer Ross and Mr. Rizza.

Officer Ross's demotions came in the midst of several months of personnel-related upheaval in the police department and the borough, conflicts that have proven costly for the community.

This year, the borough is now $6,000 over its $30,000 budget for special legal fees, which includes labor matters, said Laurie Malka, the council vice president.

Mr. Rizza said at a meeting Monday night that the borough could appeal to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas if the civil service commission overturns Officer Ross's demotion.

First Published: July 26, 2011, 4:00 p.m.