Scott Township Police Chief Suspended During Investigation
By: Eric Deabill
Updated: March 19, 2013
Scott Township, Lackawanna County - A Lackawanna County police chief has been suspended after leaders in his community were informed of an investigation Monday night.
The case centers around the Scott Township police department and chief James Romano.
Chief Romano has been chief of Scott Township since 2005 but has worked in the department for 18 years.
The township solicitor and a township supervisor confirm Romano has been suspended with pay.
The chief has not been arrested or even accused of any wrongdoing at this time but news of the suspension quickly spread.
"A little surprised because of the fact that I moved back here from New Jersey where I worked and he's been the chief since we got back," Ralph Cure of Scott Township said.
Details of the investigation have not been released.
People who live in Scott Township say they're not drawing any conclusions.
"I think that we have to wait to find the details and I'm sure the leadership of Scott Township will do the right thing," Ron Hackman of Scott Township said.
Efforts to reach Chief Romano on his cell phone were unsuccessful. He did not return messages.
People in Scott Township say the suspension won't make them think differently about the police force who has to cover nearly 29 square miles.
"I think they do a very good job for the size of the territory that they have to cover. I think they do a very good job," Cure said.
"I think they do a real good job here keeping the area safe and protecting the taxpayers and that kind of thing," Hackman said.
Efforts to reach a spokesman from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, which would handle the investigation, was unsuccessful.
Scott Township leaders say they plan to do their own investigation.
As for the police force, township leaders say Lt. Jared Ganz has been temporarily been put in charge of the police department pending the outcome of the investigation.
