Ligonier Valley Police Commission to 'start from square one' in naming citizen member

Ligonier Valley residents will have to wait until at least Feb. 11 to learn who will represent Ligonier Township as a citizen member on the police commission.

The Ligonier Valley Police Commission’s vote in December to reappoint Scott Gongaware as the citizen member was ruled invalid by a Westmoreland County judge.

So commission Chairman Matt Smith suggested he and fellow personnel committee member Dan Resenic “start from square one” by arranging interviews with the roughly half-dozen township residents who have submitted applications for the seat.

“We’ll try to find somebody we agree on and that we think will fit best,” Smith said.

At Tuesday’s commission meeting, Resenic agreed with that plan. Smith said he didn’t think an agreement on a citizen representative would be possible at that session.

“I’m going to assume we’re going to be in a stalemate if we start nominating and voting on it,” he said.

With the fifth seat for the citizen member temporarily vacant, the commission consists of Smith, who also is the Ligonier council president, and borough Mayor Butch Bellas, who both voted to reappoint Gongaware. The other two members are Resenic and Erik Ross, who recommended veteran Darlington firefighter Bob McDowell in their positions as township supervisors.

Smith said both those men will be considered in the interview process.

John Sleasman, who retired two years ago as Latrobe’s police chief, said he would reapply for the appointed commission seat after his application apparently went missing. Sleasman said he was able to act as a buffer between Latrobe’s police union and the city’s elected officials.

“I think that trait would benefit your commission,” he said.

The field also includes Greg Sullenberger, a part-time Ligonier Valley police officer who indicated he would resign if he is named to the commission.

Approving a preliminary injunction sought by Ligonier Township, Judge Harry Smail Jr. on Monday ruled a Dec. 12 commission vote to appoint Gongaware was improper because his initial term didn’t expire until Dec. 31.

In the civil suit, township solicitor Dan Hudock also argued Gongaware improperly voted for his own reappointment.

Residents have voiced protest since the supervisors appointed Ross as one of their representatives on the commission, replacing Supervisor Stephanie Verna.

Many have said Verna’s bookkeeping skills were an asset to the commission while they’ve argued Ross, who has filed a separate suit against the Ligonier Valley police and three of its officers, will be hampered by a conflict of interest.

In his lawsuit, Ross is seeking unspecified 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.

Following an investigation by Westmoreland County detectives, Ross was cited with a summary harassment offense. In October 2023, during Fort Ligonier Days, Ross is alleged to have had a run-in with three Ligonier Valley police officers as they rode along Main Street in an all-terrain vehicle.

The officers contended there was a physical and verbal altercation, but the charge was dismissed when Ross appealed to Westmoreland County Court.

Ross said 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.

Attorney Mark Hamilton, who is representing the three police officers, argued Ross will need to refrain from more than that to avoid a conflict.

“For (Ross) to take any vote that affects or has anything to do with the three officers he has sued would be completely unethical,” said Hamilton. “He has to recuse himself from a vote that is not limited to the lawsuit.

“He has an adverse position against those three individuals. If they come up for a raise or any kind of request they have made, he should recuse himself.”

Mark Sorice, solicitor for the police commission, said he obtained a similar opinion from a former official with the state bar association. Ross indicated he would review that opinion.

Borough resident Bill Wolford argued that Ross may not be able to vote on a wide range of police issues.

“How can a member on this board function at all if there’s a conflict of interest as major as that,” Wolford said. “Every decision that’s made by this board impacts a police officer.

“As long as (the three officers) are on the police force, any decision you make influences them.”

Either Verna or fellow Supervisor John Beaufort likely will have an opportunity to serve as an alternate member of the commission, as Supervisor Scott Matson said he intended to relinquish the alternate post.

Matson added that he doesn’t intend to run for a third term as supervisor.

“I really don’t want on it,” Matson said of the commission. “I’m a firm believer that these boards need to all be changed up.”

The Ligonier Valley force includes 10 full-time officers and two part-time officers.

Shawn Knepper, school resource officer and union representative with the Ligonier Valley department, suggested forming a committee including officers, commission members and community members to draft a five-year strategic plan for the force.

“As we embark on our sixth year as a unified police department, I believe it is time for the commission to reflect on its vision, mission and goals,” he said.

Smith and Resenic agreed that creating a strategic plan is a good idea.

Ross said he wants to focus on efficiency and safety training for the police and “getting the right people in the right position.”

He said additional state funding could help provide training and more equipment for the force.