Ross Commissioners Intent On Keeping $40,000 Police Study Secret

ROSS TOWNSHIP, PA — Commissioners are ignoring a Pennsylvania Office of Open Records ruling that a $40,000 study of the township police department be released to the public and are appealing that decision in Common Pleas Court.

Township resident Frank Colucci filed a request with the open records office after the township declined to release the report after Colucci's contention that it should be public under the state Right to Know Law. Township officials would say only that the study pertained to a noncriminal investigation.

According to the open records office ruling, commissioners in January hired consultants W.R. Smeal Police Management Consultants to probe the potential reasons for:

• Conflict between the police department and the township.

• Perceived conflict between the police department and the public.

• The cause of the township's perception of low morale among police officers.

The consultant also was to investigate whether any township policies and procedures were violated relating to the low morale and the various conflicts.

The open records office ruled that the evidence presented by the township in its attempt to suppress the report does not meet the burden of proof that the study is related to a noncriminal investigation. Because of that, the report is subject to public access.

Commission chairman Dan DeMarco said the township believes the ruling is erroneous, WTAE-TV reported. A court hearing on the dispute has not been scheduled.

See the entire Office of Open Records ruling here.

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