A man who is suing the Ligonier Valley Police and has approved litigation against the commission that oversees the force is now serving on that same commission.

Erik Ross, who has taken over as chairman of the Ligonier Township supervisors, has replaced Stephanie Verna as a representative of the supervisors on the regional police commission.

The 3-2 vote of the supervisors favoring Ross over Verna for a four-year term on the commission was greeted with boos by many in the packed audience at this week’s reorganization meeting of the township board.

Audience members also expressed displeasure with a similarly divided vote by the supervisors that authorized legal steps to contest the police commission’s reappointment in December of Scott Gongaware, a township citizen on the five-member police board. The commission also includes an additional township supervisor, Dan Resenic, and two elected officials from Ligonier Borough.

Resenic and fellow Supervisor Scott Matson, who was reappointed as an alternate police commission member, joined Ross in approving the motions concerning the commission. Verna and Supervisor John Beaufort were opposed.

During public comments, several residents argued Ross should not serve on the police commission because of a civil suit he filed in October against the Ligonier Valley Police Department and three of its officers, a legal case they say creates a conflict of interest for Ross.

After the meeting, Ross told reporters he was advised by his personal attorney that, to avoid a conflict of interest as a police commission member, he need only refrain from voting on or taking part in discussion of any matters related to his lawsuit.

In his suit, Ross is seeking unspecified compensatory damages and coverage of his legal fees, claiming the police misused the criminal justice system in an effort to discredit his actions and tarnish his reputation in the community.

Ross, according to the court filing, was cited in October 2023, during Fort Ligonier Days, following a run-in with the three officers as they rode along Main Street in an all-terrain vehicle. The officers contended there was a physical and verbal altercation that resulted in Ross being charged with a summary harassment offense. That charge originally was upheld by Derry Township District Judge Kelly Hammers, who fined Ross $100.

The conviction was overturned when Ross appealed in Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court. The charge was dismissed and his criminal record was expunged.

Ross said in his suit he and his girlfriend had to step back quickly to avoid the oncoming ATV. He contends the Fort Ligonier Days incident and subsequent criminal case resulted from his efforts to reform the police department, which he said is mired in ethical lapses and improper behavior.

Butler attorney Jordan P. Shuber, who is defending the police department and its officers in Ross’s suit, didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment.

When township Solicitor Dan Hudock was asked if there is any reason Ross couldn’t serve on the police commission, the attorney deferred to state ethics officials.

“If there is any issue on that front, that is between Mr. Ross and the ethics commission,” Hudock said. “It’s not really a township concern.”

Shawn Knepper, school resource officer and union representative with the Ligonier Valley police, said he intends to submit an inquiry to the ethics commission.

“I am planning to reach out to the ethics board and see what they recommend and if they’ll investigate it a little further,” Knepper said.

“The mere concept that a person who is currently and actively suing the police directly and the taxpayers indirectly could possibly be considered for such a position is the epitome of a conflict of interest,” resident Wade Stoner said. “I truly can’t imagine why this is even possible. How can someone in this position be impartial?”

Several residents said Verna should remain on the police commission, to continue applying her bookkeeping skills to the police department budget.

“I will support the transition the best that I can,” Verna said. “I appreciate serving on the board.”

“If you do replace Commissioner Verna, make sure they have a similar background in finances,” resident Dan Stevens told the supervisors. “The system has run so efficiently.”

Ross said he will bring to the commission his experience in business management and serving for three decades as a local firefighter.

Ross said he believes the 3-2 police commission vote reappointing Gongaware wasn’t valid because Gongaware cast one of the three votes in his own favor. Resenic and Matson, who was substituting for the absent Varna, cast the votes opposing the reappointment at the December commission meeting.

“We’re trying to stop them from rushing Scott Gongaware through,” Ross said.

“You can’t be voting for yourself,” Resenic agreed.

An ordinance passed by Ligonier Borough to help establish the regional police force and commission states the citizen member from the township is to be chosen by a majority of the other members of the commission.

At this week’s supervisors meeting, Ross, Resenic and Matson recommended the police commission consider Bob McDowell, an officer with the Darlington Volunteer Fire Department, instead of Gongaware, for the two-year citizen’s term on that panel. The police commission next will meet Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Beaufort agreed the reappointment of Gongaware hadn’t been handled properly because, he said, the commission should have waited to receive the supervisors’ recommendations before voting. But, he argued little would be gained by contesting the appointment and suggested the supervisors make sure guidelines for the appointment process are clear before that commission seat comes up for a subsequent term.

“Let it go and try to get it changed for next year,” Beaufort said.

He also objected to the legal costs the township will incur.

“We’re going to pay our solicitor to fight it, and we’re going to pay 70% of the police commission’s cost to fight it,” he said. “Who is winning here? Nobody is winning.”

After the meeting, Resenic said he doesn’t believe the legal bills for the litigation over the commission appointment will be large.

McDowell and Gongaware were among six township residents who applied to serve as the citizen representative. Beaufort said all of the names should have been forwarded to the commission for its ultimate decision.

Township Manager Michael Strelic reported receiving 57 letters voicing support for the local police.

Those letters and a large public turnout at another recent supervisors meeting apparently were prompted by concerns that some supervisors are considering disbanding the police.

Resenic said that idea has been circulating on social media but is not accurate.

“The public was all up in arms because they thought we were going to disband the police,” he said. “I said I’ll never vote to disband the police. I don’t want to live in Ligonier Township without the police.”

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