Police Disciplinary Action To Be Discussed Wednesday In Lower Merion

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — Lower Merion Township's Police Committee will discuss possible disciplinary action and send it to the Board of Commissioners Wednesday.

The committee will meet at 7:30 p.m. and discuss authorization for disciplinary action.

According to the committee's agenda, it will "consider for recommendation to the Board of Commissioners approval of a disciplinary action for police officer as recommended by the Superintendent of Police."

Commissioners are scheduled to hold a special meeting at 8 p.m. Wednesday where they will hear the potential disciplinary action.

It's unclear if the potential disciplinary action is related to the use of force incident that occurred on Sunday, Jan. 8 in Bala Cynwyd.

Police Superintendent Michael McGrath back in mid-January said the public will be made aware of actions, if any, taken against the officer involved in the incident.

Hoever, Lower Merion Officials told Patch when asked about Wednesday's consideration that it does not make comment or give information on any employee disciplinary issues.

>>>RELATED: Use Of Force Arrest Draws Ire From Residents At Lower Merion Meeting<<<

The incident occurred Sunday at the intersection of Conshohocken State and Rockhill roads, township officials said.

Officer Charles Murphy tried to stop a Volvo — driven by Chaine Jordan, 36, of Plymouth Meeting — for tailgating and used its lights and sirens to do so at about 1:12 p.m. that day.

>>>RELATED: Use Of Force Legal, But Officers Performed 'Poorly:' Lower Merion Cops<<<

About 1.3 miles after the lights and sirens were activated to initiate the stop, Jordan pulled into a Wawa parking lot.

The vehicle's hazards lights were activated for most of the travel time, video shows.

Murphy is seen on camera approaching the Volvo with a gun in his hand, but at his side. The officer is never seen raising the gun at the vehicle or driver.

Police said Jordan refused to provide paperwork, such as a driver's license, and said she was taking a passenger to the hospital.

Audio and video footage shows Jordan requesting a supervisor come to the scene, and Murphy told Jordan he did not care she was scared.

A backup officer reassured Jordan that a supervisor was coming, but Murphy would not let him interject with that information, police said.

Eventually, Murphy reached into the vehicle to open the door and tried to pull Jordan from the vehicle.

Murphy stopped trying to pull her out and used his taser, which was not effective, police said.

A second, direct attempt at using the taser also failed, police said.

Murphy abandoned the taser and with the help of a second officer was able to get Jordan from the vehicle, and a third officer was needed to place the driver in handcuffs, according to police.

In total, the time from the stop to Jordan being taken into custody was about 2 minutes and 7 seconds, according to police.

Police said the actions taken were legal based on the preceding events, which police said included fleeing and eluding.

However, police said the actions deviated from the department's trainings and policies, and that the best deescalation practices were not followed.

Jordan has been charged with fleeing or attempting to elude police, resisting arrest, driving with a suspended license, and other summary traffic offenses, according to court documents.

Misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia charges were also filed after police said Jordan was in possession of one Oxycodone pill in a medicine container with the label removed, according to court records and police.

She is awaiting a preliminary hearing, court records show

As for Murphy, police said he is on desk duty pending the full results of the investigation and any disciplinary actions taken by township officials.

Police said while the actions taken during the traffic stop were legal, officers could have performed better.

"We can sometimes fail," McGrath said. "Our officers are human."

No one was hurt during the incident, according to authorities.